Metso has announced an investment in new mineralogy analysis technology at its Research Centre in Pori, Finland.
The company has installed a TESCAN TIMA automated mineralogy analyser at the facility as part of its plans to provide faster and more comprehensive mineralogical data for mining customers.
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The system combines high-resolution field‑emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‑SEM) imaging with multi‑detector elemental analysis in a single fully automated platform.
It builds on Metso’s existing mineralogical analysis capabilities by increasing throughput, both by shortening analysis time and allowing more samples to be processed.
This supports the production of quantitative datasets on ore properties, mineral relationships and metallurgical response across a larger number of samples.
Metso senior mineralogist Tero Kravtsov said: “In minerals processing and metals refining, the mineralogy of the feed material dictates the outcome of the entire process.
“By applying detailed mineralogical analysis to feed, concentrates, tailings and other process products across mineral processing, hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy, the foundation for selecting the appropriate metallurgical route at an early stage can be provided.”
The Metso Research Centre in Pori is a key site for research and product development.
Its work includes mineral processing, hydrometallurgy, processing solutions for battery materials and smelting-related technologies.
Metso minerals processing director Matthew Hicks said: “This investment strengthens the mineralogy expertise we have applied for decades. By expanding our analytical capacity and shortening turnaround times, the experts at the Pori Research Centre can deliver clear, actionable mineralogical data for a greater number of cases.
“Such clarity directly reduces project risk and improves resource efficiency across the entire process.”
Last month, Metso launched a new lithium carbonate production method to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate from spodumene concentrate in a single step.
