Scanning system for 3D mineralogy modelling

1. A method of mining comprising:

using a vehicle fitted with a scanning module to concurrently scan a bench face of a mine bench for both geometric and geological information;

processing the geological information to determine a geological classification;

fusing the geometric information and the geological classification to produce a model of the geometric and geological information including ore grade information of the bench face;

removing material from the bench; and

transporting removed material for processing, wherein

at least one of said removing, transporting, and processing is performed at least partially dependent on assessment of the model in terms of the ore grade information.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the scanning module comprises a hyperspectral imager to generate hyperspectral images of the bench face, the hyperspectral images containing geological information on the material at the bench face.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the hyperspectral imager comprises an imaging spectrometer and/or a hyperspectral camera.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the scanning module further comprises a geometry scanner for generating geometric information on the bench face the method further comprising:

fusing the geometric information generated by the geometry scanner with the geological information generated by the hyperspectral imager thereby to produce the model of the geometric and geological information of the bench face.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the geometry scanner comprises a laser.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the geometry scanner comprises a camera.

7. The method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising the step of normalising data generated by the hyperspectral imager.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising placing one or more spectral imaging calibration members at spaced locations on the bench face, and wherein the step of normalising data generated by the hyperspectral imager comprises:

scanning the or each spectral imaging calibration member to obtain radiance data relating to a radiance of incident light; and

using the radiance data to normalise data generated by the hyperspectral imager.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said spectral imaging calibration members comprise calibration boards having reflective surfaces of a known spectrum.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the vehicle moves between spaced locations along the bench at which locations the vehicle stops for scanning of the bench face by the scanning module.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the scanning module scans the bench face as the vehicle moves along the bench face.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

drilling blast holes in the bench and blasting the bench using explosive placed in the blast holes;

analysing drilling cuttings generated by the drilling of the blast holes; and wherein

an outcome of the drilling cuttings analysis is used as a factor in producing the model of the geometric and geological information of the bench face.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein analysis of the drill cuttings is performed by the scanning module.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the step of scanning the bench face by the scanning module is carried out prior to drilling the blast holes.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising the step of using the scanning module to make a further scan of the bench face after the bench has been blasted.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the outcome of the further scan is used to assess movement of material in the bench during the blasting.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the outcome of the further scan is used as a factor in producing the model of the geometric and geological information of the bench face.

18. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the step of scanning the bench face is carried out after drilling the blast holes.

19. The method as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising the step of using the scanning vehicle to make an additional scan of the bench face after partial removal of the blasted material from the bench.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the outcome of the additional scan is used as a factor in producing the model of the geometric and geological information of the bench face.

21. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the scanning module incorporates a receiver to receive GPS position signals for use in the generation of the geometric information.

22. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein data from the scanning module is transmitted from the vehicle to a processing station.

23. A system for exploiting a mine, comprising:

a data processing station; and

a vehicle capable of movement along a mine bench face and fitted with a scanning module, the scanning module operable to scan the bench face and concurrently generate both geometric and geological information relating to the bench face; and

a transmitter for transmitting said geometric and geological information to the data processing station for:

processing the geological information to determine a geological classification;

fusing the geometric information and the geological classification to produce a model of the geometric and geological information including ore grade information of the bench face, and

providing instructions that are at least partially dependent on assessment of the model in terms of the ore grade information for at least one of removing, transporting, and processing material from the bench face.

24. The system as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the scanning module includes one or more hyperspectral imagers for producing hyperspectral geological information relating to the bench.

25. The system as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the scanning module further comprises a laser scanner for capturing geometric information.

26. A data processing station comprising:

a receiving module operable to receive geological and geographical data associated with a region of interest, the geological and geometric data having been scanned concurrently;

a processing module operable to a) process the geological information to determine a geological classification, and to b) fuse the geometric information and the geological classification to produce a model of the geometric and geological information including ore grade information associated with a region of interest; and

an instructing module operable to issue an excavation instruction dependent, at least in part, on assessment of the model in terms of the ore grade information.

27. A non-transitory computer readable medium providing computer program code which when executed by a computer system causes the system to implement a method, comprising:

providing instructions to a vehicle fitted with a scanning module to concurrently scan a bench face of a mine bench for both geometric and geological information;

receiving scanned geometric and geological information;

processing the geological information to determine a geological classification;

fusing the geometric information and the geological classification to produce a model of the geometric and geological information including ore grade information of the bench face; and

providing instructions for:

removing material from the bench, and

transporting removed material for processing, wherein

at least one of said removing, transporting, and processing is performed at least partially dependent on assessment of the model in terms of the ore grade information.