著者
淵田 茂司 門倉 正和 所 千晴
出版者
一般社団法人 資源・素材学会
雑誌
Journal of MMIJ (ISSN:18816118)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.137, no.12, pp.116-122, 2021-12-25 (Released:2021-12-25)
参考文献数
15
被引用文献数
2

Acid mine drainage (AMD) generation is a serious problem from the environmental and economic perspectives, because it contains a large amount of heavy metals and because there are high costs associated with maintaining the facilities, purchasing neutralizing agents, and disposing sludges; which are required for the treatment process. In this study, changes in AMD quantity and quality for the next decades were predicted by a three series tank model in three stages, by combining the first order kinetic calculation of sulfide minerals' dissolution for two metal mines (X and Y) in Japan. Results from the AMD quality model represented the decrease of heavy metal concentrations below the effluent standard values in 30–140 years, by considering dilution and/or additional dissolution by heavy rain and snow melting, although these predicted values diverged by our previous model. However, the low correlation coefficient values (0.23–0.63) observed between the measured values of heavy metal concentration and the values calculated by our new model, mean that other chemical reactions, such as sulfate and/or carbonate mineral dissolution could greatly affect the AMD quality. In fact, there was no correlation between the metal potential calculated by our model and the real distribution of sulfide minerals at X mine. Our results therefore indicate that specific geochemical reaction and geological information should be included in the AMD quality prediction model, to estimate more accurately the fluctuation of each heavy metal concentration during different seasons.
著者
葛巻 星 西岡 宣泰 藤代 史 武部 博倫
出版者
一般社団法人 資源・素材学会
雑誌
Journal of MMIJ (ISSN:18816118)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.137, no.11, pp.110-115, 2021-11-30 (Released:2021-11-30)
参考文献数
27
被引用文献数
2

A stabilized zirconia oxygen probe was used to measure the oxygen partial pressure (OPP) at an electrode submerged in a copper slag melt at 1300 ℃. The OPP was controlled in the range of 10−10–10−5 atm owing to the presence or absence of a powdered carbon layer on the slag melt using a high-purity alumina crucible in argon (Ar) gas flow. Under suppression of magnetite formation at an OPP of approximately 10−10 atm, the viscosities of the copper slag and FeO-Fe2O3-SiO2-Al2O3 slag melts were measured between 1200 ℃ and 1300 ℃. The obtained values were in the range of 1.0×102–7.8×102 mPa・s. The dependences of total Fe/SiO2 mass ratio and Al2O3 concentration on viscosity were qualitatively interpreted from the aluminosilicate network structure viewpoint.
著者
宮本 真之 北田 敦 安達 謙 深見 一弘 邑瀬 邦明
出版者
一般社団法人 資源・素材学会
雑誌
Journal of MMIJ (ISSN:18816118)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.137, no.11, pp.103-109, 2021-11-30 (Released:2021-11-30)
参考文献数
25
被引用文献数
2

CaCl2 is a low-toxic, inexpensive reagent that dissolves in large amounts in water to form highly concentrated aqueous solutions, or hydrate melts electrolyte. In this work, it was investigated that the concentrated CaCl2 aqueous solutions (aq) as novel lead (Pb) electrodeposition baths. While PbCl2 is poorly soluble in water at room temperature, PbCl2 dissolved up to 0.452 mol kg−1 ([Pb(II)] = 93.7 g kg−1) by the formation of PbCl42− complexes in the concentrated CaCl2 aq due to its high Cl− activity. Electrochemical measurements confirmed that the apparent exchange current density and the limiting current density of Pb electrodeposition decreased with increasing CaCl2 concentration. Since the diffusion of Pb(II) species was limited due to the high viscosity and ionic strength of the solution, agitation was effective in improving ion transport and electrodeposition rate. The presence of chloride ions in Pb electrolysis is usually detrimental due to the low solubility of PbCl2, however, the highly concentrated CaCl2 solution can be a potential candidate electrolyte for PbCl2-based electrolytic processes.
著者
山下 雄 高橋 純一
出版者
一般社団法人 資源・素材学会
雑誌
Journal of MMIJ (ISSN:18816118)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.137, no.10, pp.98-102, 2021-10-29 (Released:2021-10-29)
参考文献数
10

A pyrometallurgical process of metal recycling from waste lithium-ion batteries (LIB) has been developed. Basic process is that Co, Ni oxides which are from cathode materials of LIB and Cu which is from anode current collector are smelted and are reduced to metal, and the metal is refined in a next hydrometallurgical process. Since Al and Li contained in LIB are distributed to slag as oxides in the melting process, it is important to know the influence of these elements on the melting temperature of slag in determining the operating conditions. Therefore, the effects on the slag melting temperature when these elements and the amount of flux are changed are investigated and compared with the calculation results in FactSage (thermodynamic calculation software). In addition, based on the obtained melting temperature, waste LIB and flux were mixed and melted, and it was confirmed whether the metal and slag could be separated.
著者
アニンディティヨ パトモノアジ ムハンマド ナシル ムハンマド アジス マハルディカ 雲 佘 末包 哲也
出版者
一般社団法人 資源・素材学会
雑誌
Journal of MMIJ (ISSN:18816118)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.137, no.9, pp.91-97, 2021-09-30 (Released:2021-09-30)
参考文献数
23
被引用文献数
2

多孔質内にトラップされているガスの流動している水相への溶解は二酸化炭素地下貯留(GCS)などの様々な水理学的分野において重要な過程である。GCS では,CO2 の溶解により,貯留層圧力変化や浮力によるリークリスクの低減につながるため溶解速度は安全性評価において重要な観点になる。本研究ではCO2, O2, N2, と Ar の4種のガスの多孔質中での溶解プロセスの違いを比較検討した。CO2 は他のガスに比べて極めて特徴的な溶解挙動を示すことを見出した。CO2 は他のガスに比べて溶解度が一桁程度大きいため,初期の溶解が非常に速く,トラップされたCO2 気 泡の周りに飽和水の膜が形成される。この飽和膜の存在がCO2 の物質輸送係数を低下させていると考えられる。
著者
下川 公博 手塚 大輔 鹿田 慧 邑瀬 邦明 杉村 博之 粟倉 泰弘
出版者
一般社団法人 資源・素材学会
雑誌
Journal of MMIJ : journal of the Mining and Materials Processing Institute of Japan (ISSN:18816118)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.129, no.2, pp.72-77, 2013-02-01
参考文献数
28
被引用文献数
4

The surface smoothness, S and Ag content of electrodeposited copper were investigated to clarify the influence of chloride ions on electrorefining using hydrochloric acid and SbCl<SUB>3</SUB>. The surface smoothness of electrodeposited copper was improved with increasing amounts of hydrochloric acid and SbCl<SUB>3</SUB> as well as lower S and Ag content. The tensile strength and elongation of the electrodeposited copper were also studied to determine if they could be used as criteria for evaluating the cathode strippability in the permanent cathode process. The tensile strength and elongation increased when the total concentration of chloride ions released from hydrochloric acid and SbCl<SUB>3</SUB> was 20 mg/L. Metallographic observations indicated that lower rate of twin crystal formation resulted in higher tensile strength and elongation at approximately 20 mg/L of chloride ion concentration.
著者
安田 豊 千田 裕史 本村 竜也
出版者
一般社団法人 資源・素材学会
雑誌
資源・素材学会誌 (ISSN:18816118)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.136, no.8, pp.88-98, 2020
被引用文献数
3

<p>Flash smelting furnace at Saganoseki was build 1973 and its capacity increased to 3.5 times the original during 40 years. The degradation progressed in that process, so it was replaced to higher potential furnace in the long-term shutdown at 2017 for further capacity improvement. In addition, gas treatment facility for FSF off gas and other related facilities were modified in order to accommodate the increased FSF capacity. As a result, FSF capacity increased to 4 times the original after the long-term shutdown at 2019 and the competitiveness of Saganoseki smelter and refinery was improved.</p>
著者
糟野 貴史 北田 敦 下川 公博 邑瀬 邦明
出版者
一般社団法人 資源・素材学会
雑誌
日本鑛業會誌 (ISSN:18816118)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.130, no.2, pp.65-69, 2014
被引用文献数
6

Electrolytic copper contains, on average, 10 ppm silver as impurity, which leads to a loss of silver as a cashcow product for copper smelters.Most of silver included in blister copper anodes passes into anode slime when electrolyzed, keeping the elemental state. However, once a part of elemental silver dissolves from the anode or from anode slime for some reason, then silver can co-deposit with electrolytic copper cathode, since silver is nobler than copper. In the present work, the dissolution behavior of silver from anode slime was examined by using granular silver as a model of the slime.We have shown that the silver dissolution is caused by dissolved oxygen in the electrolyte, and that thiourea and/or chloride ions as usual additives play a role to suppress the silver dissolution approximately to two thirds.Moreover, it was found that the dissolution of silver was suppressed to less than 1ppm by galvanic contacting of the granular silver with less noble metals (Pb or Cu) immersed in the same electrolyte. This indicates that the use of Pb or Cu lining at the bottom of electrolytic cells can suppress silver dissolution from the anode slime settled to the bottom, reducing the silver loss to electrolytic copper.
著者
西松 裕一
出版者
The Mining and Materials Processing Institute of Japan
雑誌
Journal of MMIJ (ISSN:18816118)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.129, no.1, pp.1-10, 2013-01-01 (Released:2014-01-30)
参考文献数
16

In This paper, the author tries to discuss on the development and finiteness of natural resources on the basis of the present state of their supply and demand.The natural resources are classified into several categories i.e. mineral resource as solid raw materials, fossil fuels, nuclear power and new natural resource of energy.The finiteness and exhaustion of natural resources are one of the most important problems, in near future, because they are indispensable for production of various industrial materials as well as fuel of power plants, industrial plants, transport facilities, and home use.Then, the effect of increasing concentration of CO2 on the global warming is critically discussed from scientific and long term point of view. Furthermore, it is indicated that the nuclear power is one of the most important energy resources in the future, although there remain some severe technical problems to be solved, at present. Next, the author discuss on the technical features and possibilities of such new natural energy resources as solar panel, wind power plant, geothermal energy, etc.And, the features of various storage facilities of electric power are discussed from technical and ecological point of view, because most of new natural energy are transformed into electric power for transmission and tentative storage.Finally, the author indicates that is most important to discuss on the interaction amongst new natural energy, mineral resources, and global environment from scientific and long term point of view.
著者
佐々木 久郎 スサント ベリー アンガラ フェリアン ヨセフサザビィ アミン 菅井 裕一 川村 太郎 児玉 孝雄 松嶋 慶祐
出版者
一般社団法人 資源・素材学会
雑誌
日本鑛業會誌 (ISSN:18816118)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.131, no.8, pp.503-508, 2015
被引用文献数
2

The development and advancement of new technologies have been considered for carbon fixation and its effective utilization as being indispensable for the achievement of greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets without adversely impacting economic growth in the world. Among such technologies, the one considered to present the greatest potential in terms of both of feasibility and CO<sub>2</sub> reduction, as well as offering a relatively low cost burden, is CO<sub>2</sub> capture, usage and geological storage (CCUS). The costs of CO<sub>2</sub> recovery present a barrier to carry the CCS and CCUS project. Large-scale project models for carbon sequestration, recovery and underground storage that involve the construction of long-distance pipelines have been either implemented or planned in North America and Australia, etc., but such projects are not well matched to the land conditions of Japan. The development of Japanese-style CO<sub>2</sub> sequestration, recovery and underground storage technologies is required that ensures linkage in a compact and high economical way among local area-based CO<sub>2</sub> recovery, storage or fixation processes and also energy supply. In this article, the concept<tt>"</tt> Low-Carbon Smart Cities<tt>"</tt> have been proposed with some technical challenges that can be solved by research developments with including environmental monitoring. This concept is targeted for areas with relatively high population density and where land use constraints are in place. By applying the resulting model to the situation in Southeast Asian countries, which have similar land conditions and also possess coal resources, the aim is to combine and integrate the local environment with the provision of carbon-free energy and realize CO<sub>2</sub> reduction with greater economic efficiency.
著者
Dagvadorj Otgonjargal 中村大 川口貴之 渡邊達也 川尻峻三 宗岡寿美
出版者
一般社団法人 資源・素材学会
雑誌
Journal of MMIJ (ISSN:18816118)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.137, no.7, pp.69-78, 2021-07-31 (Released:2021-07-31)
参考文献数
16

In this study,field surveys were carried out at the damaged area of slope stabilization works,where the main cause was presumed to be the frost heaving of the rock mass.Field measurements of the freezing depth and the amount of frost heave were also conducted.In addition, the effectiveness of the slope stabilization work with the frost heave measures was verified based on the investigation results.The findings are summarized as follows. (1) From the results of the field survey and the field measurements,it was found that even if frost heaving occurred in the extreme surface layer, the rock mass would be degraded and the slope stabilization work would be affected.(2)From the results of the frost heaving tests, it is clear that the frost susceptibility of the damaged rock slope is extremely high, and there was wide agreement between the results of the frost heaving tests and the results of determining the frost susceptibility of the damaged rock slope using a simple strength test method. Therefore, the validity of the simple method proposed by Nakamura et al. for determining the frost susceptibility of rocks by using the strength test was also verified. (3)It was confirmed that both the gabion and the continuous fiber reinforced soil work were effective in preventing the freezing front from advancing into the rock mass.The method of covering the rock slope with non-frost susceptible material to prevent the penetration of the freezing front was found to be effective as a countermeasure against frost heaving.
著者
藤井 響也 武部 博倫
出版者
一般社団法人 資源・素材学会
雑誌
Journal of MMIJ (ISSN:18816118)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.137, no.6, pp.63-68, 2021-06-30 (Released:2021-06-30)
参考文献数
19
被引用文献数
3

Mixtures of copper concentrate and silica sand with various CuFeS2/FeS2 ratios and with 5 mg in weight were dropped from the top side of the silica tube filled with O2 gas and were reacted at 470℃. The Fe/SiO2 mass ratio of the mixtures was fixed at 1.1 as a typical composition of flash smelting. The samples exhibited the white light emission expecting the arrival temperature of > 1500℃ due to the ignition reaction of sulfide minerals. Reaction products were evaluated by using scanning electron micrograph-energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDS) analysis. In addition to un-reacted oxide and sulfide particles, matte-slag-mineral-magnetite coexisted particles were recognized in microstructure observation. The products supported heterogeneous reactions occurring in the copper concentrate burner. The effect of FeS2 concentration on copper concentration in matte phase and magnetite phase fraction in slag phase was discussed.
著者
張 春偉 高 謙 胡 映学 袁 正一 末包 哲也 肖 鋒
出版者
一般社団法人 資源・素材学会
雑誌
Journal of MMIJ (ISSN:18816118)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.137, no.5, pp.56-62, 2021-05-31 (Released:2021-05-27)
参考文献数
30

多孔質中の非混和二相流に関する現象はCO2地下貯留や原油増進回収,土壌修復など様々な工業的,自然科学的応用を有している。ハイネスジャンプや毛管圧浸透などの空隙スケールの現象は置換プロセスに大きな影響を与えることが知られている。ハイネスジャンプは周囲の空隙内におけるメニスカスの再配置を伴いながら二相界面が急激に移動する現象である。対して,毛管圧浸透は濡れにくい相が大きな空隙を平坦な界面を維持しながら選択的に浸透する現象である。本研究では,様々なスロート径を有するランダムな構造を有する多孔質における排水過程の数値シミュレーションを行った。ハイネスジャンプと毛管圧浸透は飽和率の変化に影響を与える。ハイネスジャンプでは飽和率が変わらず先端界面の移動が生じる。一方,毛管圧浸透では先端位置がほとんど変化せず,飽和率の上昇が発生する。さらに,キャピラリー数と粘性比の影響を調べた。高いキャピラリー数と高い粘性比が,CO2などの濡れにくい相のキャピラリートラップには有効である。エネルギー収支を求めた結果,外からなされた仕事の48%がこれらの不可逆過程で散逸していることが分かった。
著者
荒牧 憲隆 村上 拓馬
出版者
一般社団法人 資源・素材学会
雑誌
Journal of MMIJ (ISSN:18816118)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.137, no.5, pp.51-55, 2021-05-31 (Released:2021-05-27)
参考文献数
9
被引用文献数
1

We proposed a new gasification method that converts unused organic matter in sedimentary rocks to bio methane gas through the use of microorganisms, known as Subsurface Cultivation and Gasification (SCG). Our approach uses hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to decompose organic matter rapidly into usable substrates for methanogens. We previously reported that H2O2 would be useful for effective SCG at lignite, and conversion of organic matter from lignite into biogenic methane with the help of microorganisms is expected to be highly profitable. However, changes of physical properties of the sedimentary rock seem to occur due to decomposition of sedimentary rock in the biogenic methane conversion with the SCG method. In this study, immersion tests using a H2O2 solution were performed on two types of lignite to estimate the quantity of low-molecular-weight organic acids and the producing potential for biogenic methane gas. In addition, mass loss rate of lignite with oxidative decomposition of lignite was examined. The mass loss of lignite with the oxidative decomposition increased with increasing the amount of substance in H2O2. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the loss rate depends on the lignite. The biomethane deposits might become mechanically unstable during promoting decomposition of organic matter of lignite seams, if lignite has the greater resource potential for biomethane.
著者
尾﨑 佳智 岡部 徹 香川 豊
出版者
一般社団法人 資源・素材学会
雑誌
Journal of MMIJ (ISSN:18816118)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.130, no.4, pp.93-103, 2014-04-01 (Released:2015-04-01)
参考文献数
22
被引用文献数
3 10

Nickel is widely used because of its excellent physical and chemical properties. Stainless steel and super alloys for turbine blades are representative nickel-based alloys. It is noteworthy that nickel has recently been adopted for use as a component of electronic devices such as capacitors and secondary batteries. Nickel is indispensable in our day-to-day life, and it is widely used in basic to advanced applications. A future shortage of nickel is anticipated because the demand for this metal in developing countries in places like BRICs and Southeast Asia is rapidly increasing along with their economic growth. There are two kinds of nickel ore: sulfide ore and oxide ore. Sulfide ore is mainly used because of its ease of concentration and smelting. Oxide ore, which is not as useful at this stage, should be considered as a potential new source of nickel for the future since it contains 70% of nickel resources. This paper reviews the current status of the resources and supply–demand of nickel as well as its metallurgical processing. An update and outlook on hydrometallurgical process technologies for nickel laterite ore, especially the HPAL process, which will be widely applied because of its high efficiency, are introduced.
著者
徂徠 正夫 後藤 宏樹 杉原 光彦 西 祐司 中尾 信典
出版者
一般社団法人 資源・素材学会
雑誌
Journal of MMIJ (ISSN:18816118)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.137, no.4, pp.46-50, 2021-04-30 (Released:2021-04-28)
参考文献数
17

Toward the implementation of geological CO2 storage, cost reduction of CO2 monitoring during and after injection into targeted reservoirs is the key issue. The continuous gravity measurement using a superconducting gravimeter, which has been applied to the demonstration project site in Japan ahead of the rest of the world, has a potential to resolve the issue from the viewpoint of a complement to the high-cost seismic survey. The concept is such that the continuous gravity measurement is substituted for constant monitoring and that the use of seismic survey could be limited only when any anomaly is detected. The comparison of the monitoring cost after the completion of CO2 injection indicated that applying gravity measurement can reduce costs by up to 15 to 50% of the seismic cost. The current detection limit of gravity change is around 1 μGal based on the application result in the coastal area in Japan. However, the time series analysis using pseudo gravity data suggested the possibility of anomaly detection even below the detection limit. Further improvement of analysis precision would lead not only to more rapid and more reliable anomaly detection but also to contribution to the cost reduction during the CO2 injection period.
著者
竹田 修 岡部 徹
出版者
一般社団法人 資源・素材学会
雑誌
Journal of MMIJ (ISSN:18816118)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.137, no.3, pp.36-44, 2021-03-31 (Released:2021-03-27)
参考文献数
64
被引用文献数
3

Scandium possesses unique physical and chemical properties. However, its applications are limited to special/minor fields because of its small production volume and high production cost. While the abundance of scandium in the Earth's crust is not scarce, there are no concentrated ore deposits that are commercially available. Historically, scandium was extracted as a byproduct of uranium and rare earth deposits, and smelted in a small scale. In this review, the characteristics and applications of scandium are briefly introduced. Further, the natural sources of scandium and its current resource developments are discussed. Recent technological developments in the hydrometallurgical process of nickel smelting and the resource potential of scandium from lateritic nickel deposits are also explored. With respect to the production of scandium metal, the development of reduction processes including the electrolytic and the metallothermic reactions is discussed. Finally, the reduction processes for the direct production of aluminum-scandium master alloys are also reviewed.
著者
孙 强 佐々木 久郎 菅井 裕一 ンゲレ ロナルド
出版者
一般社団法人 資源・素材学会
雑誌
Journal of MMIJ (ISSN:18816118)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.137, no.1, pp.17-23, 2021-01-31 (Released:2021-01-29)
参考文献数
25

In this study, pressure response at A monitoring well in early stage of CO2 geological storage were predicted against pressure build-up at CO2 injector after starting CO2 injection into a deep saline aquifer to design the monitoring well distance from the injector and resolution or sensitivity of a pressure transmitter installed in the monitoring well. The numerical simulations on pressure distributions and expanding CO2 plume front were carried out using a reservoir simulator, CMG-STARS, for the aquifer (10 km in radius, 50m in height) with open boundary under 1,000 m from the ground or seabed level. The ratio of pressure response at the monitoring well against the pressure build-up at the injector have been presented for various monitoring locations (500 to 5,000 m from a injector) and homogeneous and heterogeneous models of horizontal permeability distribution in the aquifer (Base Model and Model 1, 2 & 3) and CO2 injection patters during 100 days (Scheme 1, 2 & 3). It has been presented from the numerical simulation results that the monitoring well radial distance from the injector is recommended to be 2,000 to 4,000 m or less than 1000 m when the resolution or sensitivity of the pressure transmitter is 1kPa or 10kPa, respectively.
著者
熊本 和宏 國友 美信 岸本 章宏 岡本 克文 倉満 晶子 宇田 哲也
出版者
一般社団法人 資源・素材学会
雑誌
Journal of MMIJ (ISSN:18816118)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.137, no.1, pp.10-16, 2021-01-31 (Released:2021-01-29)
参考文献数
31

A new Ti smelting process via. Bi–Ti alloy is proposed. This process comprises reduction of TiCl4 to Bi–10 mol%Ti alloy by Bi–Mg alloy, precipitation of Ti-rich compound from the alloy, and vacuum distillation. In this study, we investigated the precipitation and distillation processes. In the precipitation process, the Bi–10 mol%Ti liquid alloy is cooled from 900 ℃ to 500 ℃ to precipitate Bi9Ti8 in the liquid alloy. The Bi9Ti8 is recovered by a two-step separation method: recovery of mixture of Bi9Ti8 and Bi and further removal of Bi by centrifugal filtration. We demonstrated the recovery of mixture. As the results, Ti concentration in the mixture was 31 mol%, and the Ti yield was about 45 %. Because the remained liquid alloy after the recovery contains a large amount of Bi9Ti8, it is required to reuse the remained alloy in the precipitation process. Assuming the reuse of remained alloy, the material flow of the process was designed based on the experimental results. The centrifugal filtration of the mixture of Bi9Ti8 and Bi was also carried out at 500 ℃. By the centrifugal filtration at 50 G, alloys with a size of 1.5 mm were obtained, and the Ti concentration in the alloys was increased from 31 mol% to 40 mol%. Vacuum distillation of alloy powder and ingot was demonstrated. The distillation rate was enhanced when using the powder than when using alloy ingot as a starting material.
著者
岡田 夏男 前川 陽平 大和田 済熙 芳賀 一寿 柴山 敦 川村 洋平
出版者
一般社団法人 資源・素材学会
雑誌
Journal of MMIJ (ISSN:18816118)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.137, no.1, pp.1-9, 2021-01-31 (Released:2021-01-29)
参考文献数
10
被引用文献数
2

Currently, there have been issues concerning the depletion and scarcity of mineral resources. This is mostly due to the excavation of high grade minerals having already occurred years and years ago, hence forcing the mining industry to opt for the production and optimization of lower grade minerals. This however brings about a plethora of problems, many of which economic, stemming from the purification of those low grade minerals in various stages required for mineral processing. In order to reduce costs and aid in the optimization of the mining stream, this study, introduces an automatic mineral identification system which combines the predictive abilities of deep learning with the excellent resolution of hyperspectral imaging, for pre-stage of mineral processing. These technologies were used to identify and classify high grade arsenic (As) bearing minerals from their low grade mineral counterparts non-destructively. Most of this ability to perform such tasks comes from the highly versatile machine learning model which employs deep learning as a means to classify minerals for mineral processing. Experimental results supported this statement as the model was able to achieve an over 90% accuracy in the prediction of As-bearing minerals, hence, one could conclude that this system has the potential to be employed in the mining industry as it achieves modern day system requirements such as high accuracy, speed, economic, userfriendly and automatic mineral identification.