Patent ID: 8672139

Claim:
A method of sorting mined material to separate the mined material into at least two categories, with at least one category containing particles of mined material that are more susceptible to microwave energy, and with at least one other category containing particles of mined material that are less susceptible to microwave energy, the method comprising the steps of: (a) exposing particles of the mined material to microwave energy and heating the particles depending on the susceptibility of the material in the particles; (b) thermally analysing the particles using the temperatures of the particles as a basis for the analysis to indicate composition differences between particles; and (c) sorting the particles on the basis of the results of the thermal analysis; and the method also comprising controlling the atmosphere through which the particles move between a station at which particles are exposed to microwave energy and a station at which particles are thermally analysed so as to control the temperature of the particles.