Texture-informed, non-destructive assessment of ore comminution behaviour

Ore texture and mineralogy exert a dominant control on breakage behaviour, liberation, and intrinsic mechanical properties during comminution; however, extracting texture-related information in a form suitable for geometallurgical studies remains challenging. This study investigates the potential of P-wave ultrasonic velocity as a non-destructive proxy of comminution-relevant ore properties. Samples from porphyry copper, orogenic gold, and iron oxide-apatite deposits were characterised using ultrasonic pulse velocity measurements in combination with modal mineralogy, textural analysis, rebound hardness, and small-scale comminution testing. Multivariate statistical analysis reveals systematic relationships between P-wave velocity and intrinsic ore properties, reflecting variations in mineralogy, texture, and mechanical response. Microwave-treated samples further demonstrate that P-wave measurements are sensitive to defect generation and microstructural modification. These results indicate that P-wave ultrasonic velocity provides a promising, non-destructive indicator of ore characteristics relevant to comminution performance, with potential applications in geometallurgical characterisation and ore variability assessment.