The ability to identify, track and analyse minerals is an invaluable quality. Dense medium separation is a means by which mineral particles are categorised based on their unique densities. The process works on a ‘Feed’, ‘Floats’, ‘Sinks’ system. ‘Feed’ relates to the entry point where all minerals being tested pass through. ‘Floats’ is the name denoted to mineral particles that have a density that is less than the medium density, therefore resulting in the particles rising. ‘Sinks’ is the name denoted to the mineral particles that have a density greater than the medium density, resulting in the particles sinking.
The DMS process is the cornerstone for the upgrading of minerals and ores. Allowing inorganic impurities to be separated from raw mined coal, diamonds to be separated from alluvial material and kimberlite, and iron ore to be separated from siliceous material.
Numerous literature studies exist on the theoretical performance and benefits of DMS, but fall short with regards to developing effective mathematical models that can be used in DMS applications. The integration of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) into DMS provides a solution to this problem and automates the simulation process.
RFID is the process of using electromagnetic coupling in the radio frequency domain of the electromagnetic spectrum, with the aim of identifying unique objects. This wireless communication makes use of transmission and reception signals, with the hardware consisting of an antenna, transceiver and transponder. By encoding RFID tags into density tracers a DMS application is developed using effective mathematical models.