Metso Advancing Mineralogy: Minerals Processing and Metals

Metso, a publicly traded industrial company, says it has invested in new mineralogy capabilities at its Pori research centre in Finland. 

Headquartered in Espoo, Finland, Metso focuses on equipment and technology for mining and metals refining. It operates in 50 countries globally. 

McKinsey says that the mining industry is lagging in innovation and many existing assets are declining, with deteriorating ore quality at mature sites adding that new ones are more challenging to develop.

Metso says the new investment is designed to help customers “move faster” and “make better informed decisions” across the full lifecycle of minerals processing projects.

Metso’s new equipment

The investment includes the installation of a TESCAN TIMA automated mineralogy analyser. 

This equipment integrates high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy imaging with multidetector elemental analysis into a single, fully automated system. 

Tero Kravtsov, Senior Mineralogist at Metso, says: “In minerals processing and metals refining, the mineralogy of the feed material dictates the outcome of the entire process. 

“By applying detailed mineralogical analysis to feed, concentrates, tailings and other process products across mineral processing, hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy, the foundation for selecting the appropriate metallurgical route at an early stage can be provided.”

Metso’s research centre in Pori

The Metso Research Centre in Pori is one of Metso's hubs for research and product development and is focused on mineral processing, hydrometallurgy, battery material process solutions and smelting technologies.

Matthew Hicks, Director, Minerals Processing at Metso, says: "This investment strengthens the mineralogy expertise we have applied for decades. 

“By expanding our analytical capacity and shortening turnaround times, the experts at the Pori Research Centre can deliver clear, actionable mineralogical data for a greater number of cases. Such clarity directly reduces project risk and improves resource efficiency across the entire process.” 

Breaking data bottlenecks in mining

A report from Deloitte says that mining companies gather vast amounts of operational data: from haul trucks and drilling equipment to processing plants and power systems, sensors are generating time-series data at exponential rates. 

However, the report notes that productivity improvements are only possible if that data is managed and leveraged to achieve an organisation’s goals.

Metso says its new equipment significantly increases analysis speed while enabling higher sample capacity. This enables Metso's specialists to generate quantitative data on ore characteristics, mineral associations and metallurgical behaviour across a higher volume of samples. 

Rodrigo Grau, Vice President, Minerals Processing Solutions at Metso, says: “Strengthening our mineralogy capabilities in Pori further enhances our ability to support early engagement with customers and improve efficiency. 

“This is key to promoting integrated Metso flowsheets built around our core products and technologies. Mineralogical characterisation is essential in defining the optimal metallurgical route.”