30 1.3 In-Line Recovery (ILR): In-Line Recovery (ILR), integrates selective extraction, sensing, sorting and preconcentration at or near the extraction front. Its objective is to reject low-value material earlier, improve feed quality and reduce unnecessary haulage, comminution and downstream processing. Technologies that can support ILR include selective mechanical cutting, sensorbased ore sorting, bulk ore sensing, dense media separation, gravity separation, coarse particle flotation and modular processing systems. These technologies do not eliminate conventional mining, but they can change the material flow by ensuring that only higher-value or upgraded material progresses through the full processing chain. Figure 3 – Depiction of possible In-Line Recovery methods 1.4 State of the art and current challenges Recent IPM development has been enabled by advances in lixiviant chemistry, bioleaching, reactive transport modelling, permeability enhancement, controlled blasting, hydraulic and cryogenic fracturing, sensor-based ore sorting, bulk ore sensing, modular processing, real-time monitoring and predictive modelling as referenced by Sweet, et al. (2026). However, the value drivers for IPM remain highly orebody specific. ISR depends on permeability and hydrogeological control; IMR depends on fragmentation, containment and recovery kinetics; and ILR depends on mineralogy, particle size, sensor response, mass rejection, recovery and system calibration. A summary of the cost implications and trade-offs of these methods is provided in Table 1.
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