Abstract: A computer extracts from contact records that each include a contact identifier, a group identifier for each group with which the contact has had an interaction, and interaction information that indicates a number of interactions and a timing of a most recent interaction. The contact data records are processed to generate a contact profile record for each contact including group metric values and a corresponding value for each group metric value based on an interaction history of groups the contact has interacted with. An interaction analytics databases stores a set of contact profile records and group profile records for groups that include metric values associated with the group and an interaction history. They are processed with at least thousands of the contact profile records to determine group-contact compatibility factors. A compatibility parameter is generated and communicated for each of at least thousands of contacts based on the group-contact compatibility parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus for bulk ore sorting using gamma activation analysis is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conveyor system that includes one or more conveyor belts, surrounded by one or more radiation shields, to transport ore material along a transport path. A pulsed X-ray radiation source is configured to irradiate ore material at an irradiation region and one or more detectors are configured to detect a gamma radiation output from irradiated ore material at a detection region. The transport path has a bend, located between the irradiation region and the detection region, and about a vertical axis, of at least 45 degrees. The one or more detectors are configured to detect a radiation output from the irradiated ore material at times between X-ray pulses of the pulsed X-ray radiation source irradiating the ore material.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed to determine a concentration of one or more target elements in a sample, using gamma activation analysis comprising: simultaneously irradiating the sample and a reference material containing at least two reference elements X-rays, detecting deactivation gamma-rays from the irradiated sample and the irradiated reference material; determining the concentration of the or each target element in the sample by correcting the number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from any of the or each target element present in the irradiated sample based on the number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from the at least two reference elements, wherein the at least two reference elements have a variation in activation rate over a pre-defined X-ray end-point energy range which differs from one another.

Abstract: A computer extracts from contact records that each include a contact identifier, a group identifier for each group with which the contact has had an interaction, and interaction information that indicates a number of interactions and a timing of a most recent interaction. The contact data records are processed to generate a contact profile record for each contact including group metric values and a corresponding value for each group metric value based on an interaction history of groups the contact has interacted with. An interaction analytics databases stores a set of contact profile records and group profile records for groups that include metric values associated with the group and an interaction history. They are processed with at least thousands of the contact profile records to determine group-contact compatibility factors. A compatibility parameter is generated and communicated for each of at least thousands of contacts based on the group-contact compatibility parameters.

Abstract: A computer extracts from contact records that each include a contact identifier, a group identifier for each group with which the contact has had an interaction, and interaction information that indicates a number of interactions and a timing of a most recent interaction. The contact data records are processed to generate a contact profile record for each contact including group metric values and a corresponding value for each group metric value based on an interaction history of groups the contact has interacted with. An interaction analytics databases stores a set of contact profile records and group profile records for groups that include metric values associated with the group and an interaction history. They are processed with at least thousands of the contact profile records to determine group-contact compatibility factors. A compatibility parameter is generated and communicated for each of at least thousands of contacts based on the group-contact compatibility parameters.

Abstract: A shielded X-ray radiation apparatus is provided comprising an X-ray source, an X-ray attenuation shield including an elongate cavity to house the X-ray source and incorporating a region to accommodate a sample, a neutron attenuation shield, and a gamma attenuation shield. The neutron attenuation shield is situated adjacent to and substantially surrounds the X-ray attenuation shield and the gamma attenuation shield is adjacent to and substantially surrounds the neutron attenuation shield. In some embodiments a removable sample insertion means is provided to insert samples into the elongate cavity and which is composed of adjacent blocks of material, each respective block having a thickness and a composition which substantially matches the thickness and a composition of one of the X-ray attenuation, neutron attenuation and gamma-ray attenuation shields.

Abstract: A computer extracts from contact records that each include a contact identifier, a group identifier for each group with which the contact has had an interaction, and interaction information that indicates a number of interactions and a timing of a most recent interaction. The contact data records are processed to generate a contact profile record for each contact including group metric values and a corresponding value for each group metric value based on an interaction history of groups the contact has interacted with. An interaction analytics databases stores a set of contact profile records and group profile records for groups that include metric values associated with the group and an interaction history. They are processed with at least thousands of the contact profile records to determine group-contact compatibility factors. A compatibility parameter is generated and communicated for each of at least thousands of contacts based on the group-contact compatibility parameters.

Abstract: A shielded X-ray radiation apparatus is provided comprising an X-ray source, an X-ray attenuation shield including an elongate cavity to house the X-ray source and incorporating a region to accommodate a sample, a neutron attenuation shield, and a gamma attenuation shield. The neutron attenuation shield is situated adjacent to and substantially surrounds the X-ray attenuation shield and the gamma attenuation shield is adjacent to and substantially surrounds the neutron attenuation shield. In some embodiments a removable sample insertion means is provided to insert samples into the elongate cavity and which is composed of adjacent blocks of material, each respective block having a thickness and a composition which substantially matches the thickness and a composition of one of the X-ray attenuation, neutron attenuation and gamma-ray attenuation shields.

Abstract: A system and method is provided to determine the moisture content in a sample material undergoing elemental activation analysis (EAA), the sample material containing at least one sample element which during EAA forms an activation product.

Abstract: An apparatus for bulk ore sorting using gamma activation analysis is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conveyor system that includes one or more conveyor belts, surrounded by one or more radiation shields, to transport ore material along a transport path. A pulsed X-ray radiation source is configured to irradiate ore material at an irradiation region and one or more detectors are configured to detect a gamma radiation output from irradiated ore material at a detection region. The transport path has a bend, located between the irradiation region and the detection region, and about a vertical axis, of at least 45 degrees. The one or more detectors are configured to detect a radiation output from the irradiated ore material at times between X-ray pulses of the pulsed X-ray radiation source irradiating the ore material.

Abstract: A computer extracts from contact records that each include a contact identifier, a group identifier for each group with which the contact has had an interaction, and interaction information that indicates a number of interactions and a timing of a most recent interaction. The contact data records are processed to generate a contact profile record for each contact including group metric values and a corresponding value for each group metric value based on an interaction history of groups the contact has interacted with. A set of contact profile records is stored in interaction analytics databases. The computer generates group profile records for groups that include metric values associated with the group and an interaction history. They are compared with at least thousands of the contact profile records to calculate group-contact compatibility factors. A compatibility parameter is generated and communicated for each of at least thousands of contacts based on the group-contact compatibility parameters.

Abstract: A computer extracts from contact records that each include a contact identifier, a group identifier for each group with which the contact has had an interaction, and interaction information that indicates a number of interactions and a timing of a most recent interaction. The contact data records are processed to generate a contact profile record for each contact including group metric values and a corresponding value for each group metric value based on an interaction history of groups the contact has interacted with. A set of contact profile records is stored in interaction analytics databases. The computer generates group profile records for groups that include metric values associated with the group and an interaction history. They are compared with at least thousands of the contact profile records to calculate group-contact compatibility factors. A compatibility parameter is generated and communicated for each of at least thousands of contacts based on the group-contact compatibility parameters.

Abstract: A method to determine a concentration of a target element in a sample is provide. The method comprises (i) positioning a sample containing a target element with respect to a reference material containing a reference element, (ii) simultaneously irradiating the sample and the reference material with Bremsstrahlung X-rays to thereby produce activated nuclei in the target element and to produce activated nuclei in the reference element, (iii) detecting deactivation gamma-rays' from the irradiated sample and deactivation gamma-rays from the irradiated reference material, (iv) determining a first number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from the irradiated sample and a second number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from the reference material, and (v) determining the concentration of the target element in the sample by first normalising the first number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from the irradiated sample by the second number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from the reference material.

Abstract: A method to determine a concentration of a target element in a sample is provide. The method comprises (i) positioning a sample containing a target element with respect to a reference material containing a reference element, (ii) simultaneously irradiating the sample and the reference material with Bremsstrahlung X-rays to thereby produce activated nuclei in the target element and to produce activated nuclei in the reference element, (iii) detecting deactivation gamma-rays' from the irradiated sample and deactivation gamma-rays from the irradiated reference material, (iv) determining a first number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from the irradiated sample and a second number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from the reference material, and (v) determining the concentration of the target element in the sample by first normalising the first number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from the irradiated sample by the second number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from the reference material.

Abstract: An X-ray fluorescence analyzer is provided which comprises: (1) an X-ray source selected to produce an intense X-ray beam, (2) a first optical element that focuses the X-ray beam produced by the X-ray source onto a sample and selects X-rays of a desired energy, (3) an energy resolving detector, and (4) a second optical element that receives fluorescent X-rays emitted from elements in the sample and focuses a selected energy range of said fluorescent X-rays onto said energy resolving detector. Each of the first and second optical elements includes a crystal component. The X-ray fluorescence analyzer is configured such that: (i) the X-ray source has a spot size dimensioned so that it is substantially in a field of view of the first optical element, and (ii) the first optical element focuses the X-ray beam emitted by the X-ray source onto an area of the sample that corresponds to a field-of-view of the second optical element.

Abstract: An X-ray fluorescence analyser is provided which comprises: (1) an X-ray source selected to produce an intense X-ray beam, (2) a first optical element that focuses the X-ray beam produced by the X-ray source onto a sample and selects X-rays of a desired energy, (3) an energy resolving detector, and (4) a second optical element that receives fluorescent X-rays emitted from elements in the sample and focuses a selected energy range of said fluorescent X-rays onto said energy resolving detector. Each of the first and second optical elements includes a crystal component. The X-ray fluorescence analyser is configured such that: (i) the X-ray source has a spot size dimensioned so that it is substantially in a field of view of the first optical element, and (ii) the first optical element focuses the X-ray beam emitted by the X-ray source onto an area of the sample that corresponds to a field-of-view of the second optical element.

Abstract: An on-line EDXRD analyser including (i) a housing defining an analysis zone and having a passageway through it to allow transport of material in a process stream to pass through the analysis zone, (ii) a collimated source of polychromatic X-rays, (iii) an energy-resolving (ER)X-ray detector, (iv) a primary beam collimator disposed between the source of X-rays and the (ER)X-ray detector comprising an annular slit which defines an incident beam of polychromatic X-rays to irradiate a portion of the analysis zone, (v) a scatter collimator disposed between the primary beam collimator and the ERX-ray detector, the scatter collimator comprising an annular slit which defines a diffracted beam of X-rays scattered by the material to converge towards the ERX-ray detector, and (vi) a detector collimator comprising a conical opening which further defines the diffracted beam of X-rays scattered by the material.

Abstract: An on-line EDXRD analyser including (i) a housing defining an analysis zone and having a passageway through it to allow transport of material in a process stream to pass through the analysis zone, (ii) a collimated source of polychromatic X-rays, (iii) an energy-resolving (ER)X-ray detector, (iv) a primary beam collimator disposed between the source of X-rays and the (ER)X-ray detector comprising an annular slit which defines an incident beam of polychromatic X-rays to irradiate a portion of the analysis zone, (v) a scatter collimator disposed between the primary beam collimator and the ERX-ray detector, the scatter collimator comprising an annular slit which defines a diffracted beam of X-rays scattered by the material to converge towards the ERX-ray detector, and (vi) a detector collimator comprising a conical opening which further defines the diffracted beam of X-rays scattered by the material.

Abstract: The present invention related generally to bulk material analyzers suitable for the direct on-line analysis of materials such as coal and minerals. It is targeted particularly at direct on-conveyor belt analysis. It includes: a shielded enclosure defining an analysis zone within it and having a passageway through it to allow transport of bulk material through the analysis zone. At least one neutron source (1,4) and at least two gamma ray detectors (3,5) are disposed within the enclosure to measure gamma-rays produced in the bulk material by both the neutron inelastic scatter and thermal neutron capture processes. A neutron source and a gamma-ray detector are arranged in either a transmission or backscatter geometry. A second gamma-ray detector is arranged either in a transmission or backscatter geometry with or without using a second neutron source.