Evandro Gomes dos Santos | Author | IgMin Research - A Multidisciplinary Open Access Journal

Biography

Evandro Gomes dos Santos is a research scholar from Brazil, currently pursuing doctoral studies at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) in Porto Alegre. His work sits at the intersection of sensor technology, automation, and mineral processing, with a focus on sustainable approaches in mining engineering

He recently authored a peer‑reviewed research article titled “Sensor‑based Sorting using DE‑XRT Sensor Applied to a Greenfield Copper Ore Project in Southern Brazil,” published in IgMin Research (Vol. 3, Issue 4, April–June 2025) Collaborating with Irineu Antônio Schadach de Brum and Wesley Monteiro Ambrós, dos Santos investigated pre‑concentration methods using dual‑energy X‑ray transmission (DE‑XRT) sensors to enhance grade recovery of copper and silver from low‑grade copper ore sourced from the Cerro do Andrade deposit in Caçapava do Sul. Their study reported impressive metallurgical recoveries (95–99% for copper and 90–99% for silver) and assessed strategies for tailings reuse, such as incorporating coarse by‑products as civil engineering aggregates or soil remineralizers

Affiliated with UFRGS’s Mineral Processing Laboratory (LAPROM), dos Santos combines rigorous experimental protocols—with density histograms, false‑color imaging, and Excel‑based simulations—to optimize resource recovery and environmental outcomes His contributions align with broader goals of sustainable mining technologies and multidisciplinary open access publishing, underscoring his commitment to innovation at the confluence of engineering, environmental science, and automation systems .

Research Interest

Evandro Gomes dos Santos’s research interests center on sustainable mineral processing, sensor-based ore sorting technologies, and industrial automation. He is particularly focused on the application of Dual-Energy X-ray Transmission (DE-XRT) sensors to improve the efficiency and environmental impact of mineral extraction, especially in the context of greenfield mining projects. His work explores pre-concentration strategies, aiming to enhance metal recovery rates while minimizing energy consumption and waste generation.

Evandro also investigates the reuse of mining by-products, such as the potential use of coarse tailings as construction aggregates or soil remineralizers, promoting circular economy principles in mining. With a background in engineering and a deep interest in digital tools for process simulation and data analysis, he often integrates computational modeling with experimental lab techniques to optimize separation processes. His broader goal is to contribute to the development of eco-efficient mining systems that balance economic viability with environmental responsibility.

Engineering Group (1)

Research Article Article ID: igmin299

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Sensor-based Sorting using De-XRT Sensor Applied to a Greenfield Copper Ore Project in Southern Brazil

by Evandro Gomes dos Santos, Irineu Antônio Schadach de Brum and Wesley Monteiro Ambrós

Copper is one of the most demanded minerals by the global industrial sector, with approximately 20 million tons mined worldwide each year. Silver, another important technical and precious metal, sees production around 26 kt/y. The general trend of declining average grades in these deposits has made mining low-grade ores a reality for many mines worldwide. Sensor-based sorting has emerged as a significant pre-concentration solution for these cases. This study investigates the applicability of this technique to copper ore samples from the Cerro d...o Andrade deposit, located in Caçapava do Sul, southern Brazil. The primary product of interest is copper (Cu), with silver (Ag) as a by-product. Pre-concentration tests are ongoing at the UFRGS Mineral Processing Laboratory (LAPROM) using a dual-energy X-ray transmission (DE-XRT) sensor sorter. Thirty-two ore samples were analyzed (64-16 mm size fraction). Relative density histograms and false-color images were generated. This data, along with Cu and Ag grades, was assessed in Excel to estimate recoveries (metallurgical and mass), concentration factors, and Cu and Ag grades in tailings fractions. Some scenarios of tailings generation and reuse were also explored. The analyzed samples had an average of 0.83% Cu and 7.31 g/t Ag. Pre-concentration simulations produced Cu grades in the product ranging from 0.9% to 1.0% and Ag grades of 7.8 to 8.8 g/t in the Range A. Waste grades ranged from 0.02% to 0.20% Cu and 0.7 - 2.2 g/t Ag. Range B exhibited more stable Cu and Ag grades in the product (around 0.9% Cu and 11 g/t Ag). Mass recoveries ranged from 92% - 77% in the Range A and reached 70% in the Range B. Metallurgical recoveries remained high: 99% - 95% Cu in the Range A and above 94% in the Range B. Silver recoveries were also promising (99% - 93% in Range A, 90% in Range B). Considering a feed of 1,000 kt/y, estimated ROM mass after pre-concentration ranged from 833-675 kt/y of product and 167 - 325 kt/y of coarse tailings. Reuse possibilities as remineralizers and civil aggregates hold promise. These preliminary findings indicate strong potential, demonstrating the potential for achieving significant outcomes through the implementation of sensor-based sorting pre-concentration in the Andrade Project.