Radiophysical and dielectric properties of ore minerals in 12-145 GHz frequency range

The paper discusses a retrieval technique of complex permittivity of ore minerals in frequency ranges of 12-38 GHz and 77-145 GHz. The method is based on measuring frequency dependencies of transmissivity and reflectivity of plate-parallel mineral samples. In the 12-38 GHz range, the measurements were conducted using a panoramic standing wave ratio and attenuation meter. In the 77-145 GHz range, frequency dependencies of transmissivity and reflectivity were obtained using millimeter-band spectrometer with backward-wave oscillators. The real and imaginary parts of complex permittivity of a mineral were determined solving an equation system for frequency dependencies of transmissivity and reflectivity of an absorbing layer located between two dielectric media. In the course of the work, minerals that are primary ores in iron, zinc, copper and titanium mining were investigated: magnetite, hematite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, and ilmenite.