Developments in Liberation Analysis

From the mineral processor’s point of view methods of liberation analysis are presented with emphasis on the comparison of three-dimensional – by means of property analysis evaluated by intergrowth spectra depicted in the Henry Reinhardt chart – and two-dimensional methods – by means of image analysis and automated phase mapping by QEMSCAN. Based on experimental results of a current project at the Institute of Mineral Processing dealing with the processing of LD slags, results of the traditional method of multi dimensional property analysis are compared to those from automated phase and image analysis. The particle sets resulting from the property classes could be analyzed by means of QEMSCAN owing to a cooperation with LKAB/Sweden. The data were evaluated with respect to liberation by the software iDiscover 5.3.1/FEI, which is available at the Chair of Mineral Processing. First results are presented and system-related advantages as well as disadvantages are discussed from the mineral processing angle of view. © 2015, Springer-Verlag Wien.