Confocal XRF-CT system for mining analysis

摘要

A correlative evaluation of a sample using an x-ray computed tomography (CT) x-ray fluorescence (XRF) system and the method for analyzing a sample using x-ray CT and XRF is disclosed. The CT/XRF system includes an x-ray CT subsystem for acquisition of volume information and a confocal XRF subsystem for acquisition of elemental composition information. The CT/XRF system also includes a controller for managing the acquisitions by the x-ray CT subsystem and confocal XRF subsystem. Combining sub-micrometer spatial resolution 3-D imaging with elemental composition analysis in 3-D with ppm level sensitivity is important to elemental identification of precious metal grains in crushed and ground ores and floatation tailings in the mining industry.

主权项

1. An x-ray computed tomography (CT)/x-ray fluorescence (XRF) system comprising:
an x-ray CT subsystem for acquisition of volume information; a confocal XRF subsystem for acquisition of elemental composition information; and a controller in communication with the x-ray CT subsystem and the XRF confocal subsystem, wherein the controller manages the acquisition by the x-ray CT subsystem and the confocal XRF subsystem, enables the identification and selection of a feature of interest within the volume information acquired by the x-ray CT subsystem, generates a coordinate transfer function for translating the selected feature of interest from the volume information of the x-ray CT subsystem, and uses the generated coordinate transfer function to define a region of interest for subsequent acquisition of the elemental composition information the confocal XRF subsystem from the selected feature of interest.