Saint Petersburg Mining University (St. Petersburg, Russia):

Talovina I. V., Head of Chair, Doctor of Geology and Mineralogy, talovina@spmi.ru
Aleksandrova T. N., Head of Chair, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, Professor, alexandrovat10@gmail.com

TU Bergakademi Freiberg (Freiberg, Germany):
Popov O., Research fellow, Dr., Oleg.Popov@iam.tu-freiberg.de
Lieberwirth H., Managing Director of Institute of Mineral Processing Machines, Head of Chair, Dr.-Ing., Professor

The methods of computer X-ray microtomography were used to investigate morphometric parameters and pore space characteristics of granodiorite, copper sandstone and kimberlite samples. The results were compared with the same data of quantitative microstructural analysis. These data demonstrate a wide range of possibilities of computer X-ray microtomography in solving scientific and practical problems related to physicomechanical properties of rocks determining the output of ore minerals. X-ray microtomography allows evaluating the content of ore minerals in rocks, analyzing the granulometric composition and the spatial distribution of their grains. The method is worthwhile in obtaining not only the quantitative characteristics of the mineral phases, but also the pore space of the rock — dimensions, sphericity, pore and microcrack connectivity. The options of 3D-visualization of obtained data at a shot span time, high speed and nondestructiveness are undoubtedly the advantages of X-ray microtomography. The method provides a wide range of researches including preparation of rocks and ores for disintegration.

The work was performed with the aid of the Russian Foundation of Fundamental Research (the Grant 16-05-00460 А).

1. Pivnyak G. G., Vaisberg L. A., Kirichenko V. I., Pilov P. I., Kirichenko V. V. Comminution. Power engineering and technology (a manual for high schools). Moscow: Publishing house «Ruda i Metally», 2007. 296 p.
2. Melnikova T. N., Yatlukova N. G., Litvinova N. M. Upon the issue of ores grinding process optimization. Obogashchenie Rud. 2006. No. 4. pp. 5–7.
3. Litvinova N. M., Melnikova T. N., Yatlukova N. G., Danilov E. I. Intensification of the process of grinding the dificult to beneficiate gold-bearing ore of the Albazinskoye deposit. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2006. No. 10. pp. 63–64.
4. Willson C. W., Lu N., Likos W. J. Quantification of grain, pore and fluid microstructure of unsaturated sand from X-Ray CT images. Geotechnical Testing Journal. 2012. Vol. 35, Iss. 6. P. 911–923. DOI: 10.1520/GTJ20120075.
5. Vaisberg L. A., Kameneva E. E. X-ray computed tomography in the study of physico-mechanical properties of rocks. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2014. No. 9. pp. 85–90.
6. Vaisberg L. A., Kameneva Ye. Ye., Pimenov Yu. G., Sokolov D. I. Gneissogranite pore space structure study by the X-ray tomography method. Obogashchenie Rud. 2013. No. 3. pp. 37–40.
7. Evans C. L., Wightman E. M., Yuan X. Quantifying mineral grain size distributions for process modelling using X-ray micro-tomography. Miner. Eng. 2015. Vol. 82. pp. 78–83. DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2015.03.026.
8. Shtyrlyaeva A. A., Zhuravlev A. V., Gerasimova A. I. Prospects and problems of computer microtomography using for core samples studies. Neftegazovaâ Geologiâ. Teoriâ i Praktika. 2016. Vol. 11, No. 1. DOI: 10.17353/2070-5379/8_2016.
9. Vaisberg L. A., Kameneva E. E., Pimenov Yu. G., Abrosimov A. A. Deformation of granite under uniaxial compression. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2015. No. 4. pp. 50–54.
10. Yakushina O. A., Оzhogina E. G., Khozyainov M. S. Microtomography of technogeneous mineral matter. Vestnik Instituta Geologii Komi Nauchnogo Tsentra Uralskogo Otdeleniya Rossiyskoy Akademii Nauk. 2015. No. 11. pp. 38–43.
11. Arsentyev V. A., Gerasimov A. M., Dmitriev S. V., Samukov А. D. A study of mineral coal physical and mechanical properties changes in thermal modification process. Obogashchenie Rud. 2016. No. 3. pp. 3–8.
12. Popov O., Lieberwirth H., Folgner T. Quantitative Charakterisierung der Festgesteine zur Prognostizierung des Gesteinseinflusses auf relevante Produkteigenschaften und Systemkenngrößen. Teil 1: Anwendung der quantitativen Gefügeanalyse. AT Mineral Processing. 2014. No. 07–08.
13. Popov O., Lieberwirth H., Folgner T. Quantitative Charakterisierung der Festgesteine zur Prognostizierung des Gesteinseinflusses auf relevante Produkteigenschaften und Systemkenngrößen. Teil 2: Ausgewählte Beispiele. AT Mineral Processing. 2014. No. 10.
14. Popov O. Beitrag zur mathematisch-petrographischen Gefügecharakterisierung für die Beurteilung der Festgesteine hinsichtlich ihrer Aufbereitung und ihrer Produkteigenschaften. Dissertation. Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Fakultät für Maschinenbau, Verfahrens — und Energietechnik, 2007. 196 p.
15. ISRM — International Society for Rock Mechanics: Suggested method for determining point load strength. Commission on Testing Method. Working Group on Revision of the Point Load Test Method. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. & Geomech. Abstr. 1985. Vol. 22, No. 2. pp. 51–60.
16. Raaz V. Charakterisierung der Gesteinsfestigkeit mit Hilfe eines modifizierten Punktlastversuches. Z. Geol. Wiss. 2002. 30, No. 3. pp. 213–226.