Geomechanics.io

  • Free Tools
Sign UpLog In
Built byBoxcut Studio

Geomechanics.io

Geomechanics, Streamlined.

© 2026 Geomechanics.io. All rights reserved.

Geomechanics.io

CMRR-ioGEODB-ioHYDROGEO-ioQCDB-ioFree Tools & CalculatorsBlogLatest Industry News

Industries

MiningConstructionTunnelling

Company

Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyLinkedIn
    Projects
    Product
    Research

    Mining Forum: Friedland’s I-ROX comminution push – energy and recovery lens for engineers

    September 30, 2026|

    Reviewed by Joe Ashwell

    Mining Forum: Friedland’s I-ROX comminution push – energy and recovery lens for engineers

    First reported on MINING.com

    30 Second Briefing

    Robert Friedland is pushing to replace conventional SAG and ball mills with I-Pulse’s I-ROX pulsed-power comminution, which stores electricity then releases nanosecond–microsecond bursts to fracture ore internally along mineral boundaries, with projected energy cuts of up to 80% and about 5% higher metal recoveries. A 2,500 m² I-ROX research centre in Toulouse is testing Kamoa-Kakula copper ore and tailings, while I-Pulse has also secured a US$250 million CHIPS Act award for silicon-carbide semiconductors. The same platform underlies G-Pulse drilling, claimed to triple penetration rates and extend bit life sixfold, to be trialled on the Millungera Basin geothermal project in Queensland.

    Technical Brief

    • I-ROX disintegration uses stored electrical energy released in billionth–millionth‑second pulses to generate shock waves.
    • Shock waves preferentially fracture ore along mineral boundaries, aiming to reduce ultrafines versus mechanical grinding.
    • A 2,500 m² I-ROX Toulouse facility, opened January 2025, accommodates large‑scale comminution experiments and demos.
    • Ivanhoe has shipped Kamoa‑Kakula ore and tailings to Toulouse for energy‑use and recovery optimisation trials.
    • Research currently relies on in‑house testing and video evidence; no mine‑scale, independently verified datasets are published yet.
    • I-Pulse’s $250 million CHIPS Act award funds silicon‑carbide semiconductor development, critical for high‑power pulsed systems.
    • G-Pulse applies the same pulsed‑power platform ahead of conventional bits to pre‑weaken hard rock during geothermal drilling.
    • Industrial deployment questions remain unresolved: unit cost, continuous throughput capacity and performance versus full SAG–ball circuits.

    Our Take

    If I-Pulse’s projected 80% grinding energy saving were even partially realised at assets like Kamoa-Kakula, it would compound with existing solar and battery additions highlighted in our 30 MW CrossBoundary Energy coverage, pushing those copper operations further down the cost curve and easing grid-dependence in the DRC.

    The CHIPS Act-linked US$250 million award to I-Pulse ties copper-focused mining tech directly into US semiconductor supply-chain policy, which could make future deployments at Ivanhoe Mines’ assets more attractive to Western financiers seeking low-carbon, secure copper units ahead of the 2040 supply gap Friedland references.

    With Ivanhoe Mines simultaneously expanding high-grade copper resources in the DRC (as in the Makoko District resource uplift in our database) and backing disruptive comminution via I-ROX, the company is positioning to monetise lower-grade envelopes and complex ores that would be marginal under conventional SAG-mill energy and recovery performance.

    Geotechnical Software for Modern Teams

    Centralise site data, logs, and lab results with GEODB-io, CMRR-io, and HYDROGEO-io.

    No credit card required.

    • Save and export unlimited calculations
    • Advanced data visualisation
    • Generate professional PDF reports
    • Cloud storage for all your projects

    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

    Related Articles

    Mining
    about 10 hours ago

    EPC Groupe–Sabodala contract: blasting capacity and slope control insights for engineers

    EPC Groupe, through EPC Mineex Sénégal, has secured a five-year explosives supply and services contract with Endeavour’s Sabodala gold mine in Senegal, valued at about €10 million per year at full run rate. The deal covers bulk explosives and blasting support for one of West Africa’s largest open-pit gold operations, signalling a step-up in local emulsion manufacturing, on-bench services and blast design capability. For mine planners and geotechnical teams, the contract points to stable high-volume blasting capacity, supporting consistent fragmentation and slope performance over the medium term.

    Mining
    about 10 hours ago

    Haultrax HX Coach in FMS: operational coaching and dispatch insights for mine teams

    Haultrax is integrating its on-site operational coaching directly into its Fleet Management System with the launch of HX Coach at IMARC 2026. The module is designed to embed real-time operator guidance and training logic into haulage fleet dispatch, moving beyond traditional FMS reporting towards in-cab behavioural feedback and decision support. For mine operators, this signals a shift from separate coaching programmes to a software-native approach that can systematically influence truck and shovel performance at scale.

    Mining
    about 10 hours ago

    IsaMill at 30: fine grinding efficiency lessons for concentrator engineers

    Glencore Technology is marking 30 years of the IsaMill fine grinding mill, first developed by Mount Isa Mines and NETZSCH to tackle complex, ultra-fine regrind duties in base metal circuits. The horizontal, high-intensity stirred mill has since been deployed in more than 130 installations globally, often replacing ball mills in the sub-20 µm range to cut specific energy consumption and increase throughput. Recent IsaMill developments focus on larger M-series units, improved ceramic media wear performance and integration with modern flotation and coarse particle recovery flowsheets.

    Related Industries & Products

    Mining

    Geotechnical software solutions for mining operations including CMRR analysis, hydrogeological testing, and data management.

    CMRR-io

    Streamline coal mine roof stability assessments with our cloud-based CMRR software featuring automated calculations, multi-scenario analysis, and collaborative workflows.

    HYDROGEO-io

    Comprehensive hydrogeological testing platform for managing, analysing, and reporting on packer tests, lugeon values, and hydraulic conductivity assessments.

    GEODB-io

    Centralised geotechnical data management solution for storing, accessing, and analysing all your site investigation and material testing data.

    AllGeotechnicalInfrastructureHazardsEnvironmental