Western Coal

July 1, 1998

NASA technology used to geologically prospect planetary surfaces is being adapted to test ore quality in the Earth's mines. NASA-MSU TechLink (Montana State University) and SETI Institute recently teamed up to pursue investigation of a portable, real-time, quantitative, elemental sensor for mining applications.

The SETI Institute at NASA's Ames Research Center, developed a portable X-ray spectrometer aimed at planetary exploration. This instrument was deployed on the Marsokhod rover and its continual improvement is targeted at the Mars Surveyor Program. The technology is reportedly ideal for Earth-bound mining applications because of its portability, ruggedness and analytical versatility.

Field-deployable elemental sensors can yield useful information on ore quality. In the exploration phase, near real-time analytical data can improve drilling and site selection strategies. In the production phase, better knowledge of what is being mined will increase selectivity of ore over waste, thus improving materials-handling efficiency. And good elemental data can help with blending decisions.

Joan Wu-Singel, Project Director, attended the WCC's recent 1998 Spring Coal Forum. Ms. Wu-Singel is overseeing experiments on a spectra of sub-bituminous coal from Montana. She notes that the TechLink-SETI partnership "...allows us to gain quickly an understanding of the capabilities of this first generation instrument. Should the results prove promising, TechLink is well positioned to facilitate the transfer of this powerful, productivity improvement tool to industry."

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