Pre-concentration of copper ores by high voltage pulses. Part 1: Principle and major findings

•A novel ore pre-concentration technique using high voltage pulses is proposed.•Metalliferous grain-induced breakage and size-based screening for grade-splitting.•Four copper ore samples were tested to demonstrate the viability of this technique.•The pulse energy transfer efficiency may be used to infer particle grade.

A novel ore pre-concentration technique using high voltage pulses is proposed in this study. The technique utilises metalliferous grain-induced selective breakage, under a controlled pulse energy loading, and size-based screening to separate the feed ore into body breakage and surface breakage products for splitting of ores by grade. Four copper ore samples were tested to demonstrate the viability of this technique. This study consists of two parts: Part 1 presents the principle, the validation and the major findings; Part 2 discusses the new opportunities and challenges for the mining and mineral industry to take up this technique.