Differentiation between Coal and Stone through Image Analysis of Texture Features

In electrical power generation there are many problems that may be solved through the application of image analysis. The presence of non ore gangue materials mixed with coal can have an impact on the combustion efficiency and emissions of power plants. Also known as tailings, often these materials are a hazardous byproduct of mining. Differentiation between coal and gangue is desirable for fuel quality control and yield analysis. This research aims to develop a digital imaging and image analysis technique for this purpose. Material samples are analysed through a process of image acquisition and digital processing. Differentiation is found possible between varieties of bituminous coal and associated gangue and stone materials using intensity values and a range of surface texture properties.