Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

The mining industry is a critical driver of the global economy, particularly in Canada, where the mining sector contributes over $2 trillion and accounts for approximately 8% of the national GDP. As demand for critical minerals intensifies, mining companies are increasingly pressured to access deeper, more challenging deposits. However, traditional mining techniques such as drilling and blasting are inefficient, disruptive, and pose significant operational risks, particularly in hard-rock environments. While continuous mining and processing technologies have proven effective in soft-rock mining, their application in hard-rock settings is constrained by slow mechanical cutting rates, excessive tool wear, and high energy consumption. To address these challenges, innovative excavation technologies, such as microwave-assisted rock cutting and comminution, are essential for hard-rock mining and processing. Conventional magnetron-based microwave systems, however, suffer from drawbacks including slow ramp-up times and sensitivity to operational conditions. In contrast, solid-state microwave generators offer significant advantages, including precise control over power and energy dosage, as well as frequency flexibility making them well-suited for hard-rock mining environments. This Research Tools and Instruments proposal seeks to acquire a high-power solid-state microwave generator, enabling the research team to advance microwave-assisted rock preconditioning for improving the energy efficiency of excavation and comminution processes. The proposed research equipment will be employed to quantify and evaluate the impact of applying precisely-controlled microwave energy dosages at mine face prior to rock cutting. The ultimate goal is to achieve energy savings in both excavation and downstream comminution processes.