Mike Albrecht, P.E.

An alternative method is based upon measuring the forward motion of the material on the feeder by timing how long a particular piece or particle takes to go a fixed distane.  This wil give the forward motion or rate.  Then by measuring the cross sectional area of the material on the feeder you have the area of the material.  Multiply the forward motion rate by the cross sectional area you have the volume per unit time.  Say it takes 10 seconds to move 25 centimeters this is then 2.5 cm/sec.  If the crossectional are area is 25 cm x 5 cm the area is 125 square centimeters or you are moving 312.5 cubic cm per second.  Knowing the density of the material you can then calculate the weight per unit time.

One big area that gets lip service but is important is just managing and correlating the data that is available.  A recent article discussed using big data techniques to reexamine old exploration data to identify some prospects based on mineralogoy.

Another would be combining exisitng on-line senors and analysis with simulation and modelling to identify process areas that are not optimal.

Another key is making sure the structual engineer understands the dynamic loads from the crusher operation to include low frequency vibration.  The use of concrete piers is for more than ease of construction, they provide dampening mass to absord these loads.

Aden,

The margin in error is normally in the estimate of the stockpile dimensions, particularly angle of repose.  This is why the more recent effort to use aerial surveys by drones to get accurate measurements.  The calculations then are mathamatical. 

For precise measurements the use of scans from either ground or better aerial drones is the best.  If you have the basic dimensions are are loking for an approxiamtion try the SDM  Bins & Stockpile Calculations here:  http://www.smartdogmining.com/software/default.html

Performance guarantees can be helpful if they are written based on easy to measure factors.  Often they are written so that they seller can point to one or more conditions outside of specified conditons and say, due to those the performance will be different.

In pit examples would be asking for production performance and giving then having different blast results, or road conditions, or haulage distances than originally expected.  In the mill having different size distributions, ore hardness, or feed grade.  All of these provide loop holes.  And yes all of these can vary.

Instead base performance on measurable results, minimum tonnage produced, minimum concentration ratios, or similar.

The load cells are used to measure rake torque, which can be an indication of how well it is owrking, or a major indiocation of when things are going wrong.

Form the Outotec Beginers guide: 

https://www.outotec.com/company/newsletters/minerva/minerva-issue-3--2016/beginners-guide-to-thickeners/

First off there are several levels to these reports from a preliminary assessment to major efforts so the cost from that can very significantly.  Then there is the impact of the project size, again small projects are easier and less cost, major projects at the other end.

Taking both of those into account you are looking at a range of probably C$25,000 at the bottom up to a whole lot.  

In the future, very good, because it has been done for a fairly long time and is still being done today.  For the carbon part, usually by first coking the coal and then using the coke either as carbon in steel making or as carbon black.  The hydrogen portion has been a small byproduct of the gasification industry (see SASOL), and while not very large now was significant to Germany in WWII and to South Africa during the aparthied period.