Migration From Nuclear Density Gauges to Ultrasonic Density Meters

Abstract

This report serves to highlight the need for a mine to migrate from nuclear density gauges to ultrasonic density meters. This move will mitigate for the high costs incurred in maintaining nuclear density gauges, as well as associated health and environmental impacts. The ultrasonic technology has proven to be a reliable alternative to nuclear instruments and complies with all the strengths of the available nuclear density gauges. The Slurry Density Meter (SDM) of Rhosonics will be outlined in this report using areal customer case. The adoption of a non-nuclear density meter such as the SDM is recommended for a mine to replace the nuclear density gauges when they reach their half-life. Thistransition will significantly reduce operational costs, related administration workload and eliminates the associated health and safety risks on-site at the mineral processing plant.