These metals are essential to our modern lifestyle.

Copper is used extensively in electrical, plumbing and other building applications as well as in coinage. Zinc is an important metal for corrosion resistance and weather protection.

Copper can occur as large, low grade deposits associated with gold, as primary sulphides, as metallic copper, and as enriched carbonate and silicate deposits. Cobalt and arsenic can accompany the copper. Zinc is commonly mined from sulphidic deposits. Ores are generally concentrated using processes such as flotation or leaching and upgraded to metal form by smelting or solvent extraction / electrowinning.

Due to the nature of the ores and their treatment, any variation in composition can have significant impacts on their processing. Ore feed to the plant can be analysed using a GEOSCAN elemental analyser. The ore composition can be used to predict treatment performance (eg Cu:S ratio), enabling improved process control. Concentrate quality can also be monitored to ensure compliance with contract specifications (eg Arsenic levels).

Moisture content of the ore can be monitored using a TBM. The moisture data can assist with metal accounting practices, used to manage dust suppression, optimise filtration and drying process and determine dry tonnage for shipments.