Interested in improving your geological sciences, minerals, and mining knowledge with our analytical solutions? Whether you’re a student, a researcher, or a professor, we’ve got a wide range of useful articles on our most relevant application examples for:
- Exploration
- Fossil fuels
- Mineralogy
- Minerals processing
- Mining research solutions
The materials researched and the analytical equipment used often overlap with Agriculture and Food Sciences, and Environmental and Climate Science, - so check out those pages for more information! Method abbreviations are explained at the bottom of this page.
Exploration
Exploration is at the heart of geological science research. This research focuses on surveying and prospecting for minerals and materials. Geoscience, also known as Earth science, focuses on exploring and studying how the Earth and its materials work and evolve. Take a look below to find out how our analytical instruments can support you with this!
Exploration | Method | Sample | Application Note Title (Link) |
|---|---|---|---|
Base metal mineralization - mineral distributions | UV/Vis/NIR/ SWIR | Base metal mineralization in The Great Basin of the Western United States (Seminal paper, basis for our ASD work in mining) | Reflectance Spectroscopy Applied to Exploration for Mineral Deposits and Geothermal Systems |
Bauxite - exploration | UV/Vis/NIR/ SWIR | Bauxite, gibbsite Al(OH)3, boehmite γ-AlO(OH), and diaspore α-AlO(OH) with iron oxides
| |
Chlorite minerals - identification | UV/Vis/NIR/ SWIR | White micas, chlorite group minerals. (Discussion of Halo and scalars from Halo) | Automated reflectance spectroscopy for deposit recovery - SEG 2014 poster |
Drill core and cuttings mineralogy - mineral composition | UV/Vis/NIR/ SWIR | Clay Minerals, silicates, Zeolites, opal, calcite, and iron oxide (geothermal project) | Rapid Characterization of Drill Core and Cutting Mineralogy using Infrared Spectroscopy |
Geochronology - mineral composition | UV/Vis/NIR/ SWIR | U/Pb geochronological investigations of the western Avalon Zone, Newfoundland | |
Mapping mineral deposits - absorption signatures | UV/Vis/NIR/ SWIR | Mineral deposits in Newfoundland and Labrador | |
Mineral mapping – ground-truthing | UV/Vis/NIR/ SWIR | Copper ore, oil shale, and pulp manufacturing | |
Mineralogy - mineral deposits | UV/Vis/NIR/ SWIR | Mineral deposits | |
Phyllosilicate minerals - composition | UV/Vis/NIR/ SWIR | The dominant phyllosilicate minerals: smectites, illites, kaolinite, and chlorite in sedimentary systems | Automated reflectance spectroscopy for sedimentary basin characterization |
Fossil fuels
Although fossil fuels are a declining resource, surveying and prospecting to find and extract them is still a vital part of our infrastructure and research. Check out our Energy and Power Engineering page to find out more about petrochemical analysis for the recycling of fuels and the reduction of pollutants. Otherwise, check out our application notes below to find out more about our solutions in fossil fuel research!
Fossil Fuels | Method | Sample | Application Note Title (Link) |
|---|---|---|---|
Coal - elemental composition | XRF | Na2O, MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, P2O5, S, K2O, CaO, TiO2, MnO, Fe2O3, SrO, and BaO in unashed coal samples | Analysis of inorganic major and minor compounds in un-ashed coal samples prepared as pressed powder |
Coal - mineralogical composition | XRD | Quartz(SiO2), kaolinite(Al2Si2O5(OH)4), calcite(CaCO3), dolomite(CaMg(CO3)2, Siderite(FeCO3), and anatase(TiO2) | |
Coal - sample preparation for ICP-OES elemental analysis | SPE | Thermal coal as fuel, metallurgical coal for steelmaking (lower S and P) | Characterization of Coal and its By-Products Using Borate Fusions and ICP-OES Analyses |
Coal - sample preparation for ICP-OES elemental analysis | SPE | Coal, Coal Ash, and Coal Fly Ash | Characterization of Coal, Coal Ash, and Coal Fly Ash using Borate Fusion for ICP Analysis |
Crude oil - Sulfur content | XRF | Sulfur in crude oil | Determination of sulfur content in crude oil according to ISO 8754 |
Drilling mud - particle size | LD | Barite, mud | |
Enhanced oil recovery - polymer particle size | DLS | (Surfactant and hydrogel polymers ) Polyacrylamide powder for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) | |
Shale - mineral identification | UV/Vis/NIR/ SWIR | Clay mineralogy. Brief comparison of NIR, XRF, XRD, and QEMSCAN. |
Mineralogy
All materials have their own composition. Mineralogy is the study of how the materials we use are made up and interact with each other – from rocks and ores to meteorites. Below, we’ve put together a few application examples of our mineral research solutions. Take a look to find out more!
Mineralogy | Method | Sample | Application Note Title (website link) |
|---|---|---|---|
Base metal sulfides - elemental concentration | XRF | Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Co, Mo, Bi, Sb, Cd, Ag, Au, Se, and Te in sulfides | |
Fluorspar - purity | XRF | CaF2 - Fluorspar | Purity check of fluorite (fluorspar, CaF2) prepared as fused beads |
Manganese ore - elemental composition | XRF | Mn, Fe, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Ca, and Ba in manganese ore | Analysis of manganese ore samples prepared as pressed pellets |
Meteorite - crystallographic Phase identification | XRF | Olivine, (Mg, Fe)2SiO4, Ca-poor pyroxene CA) Si, Fe, Ca)Si2O6, Ca-rich pyroxene (diopside), CaMgSi2O6, spinel, MgAl2O4, anorthite, CaAl2Si2O8, and sodalite, Na8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2 | |
Meteorite - elemental composition | XRF | Meteorite: Si, Fe, Ni, Cr, Mn, Mo, Al, P, S, Cl, Na, Mg, K, Ca, Ti, Zn, and Zr | Elemental and phase analysis of a Northwest-Africa 2086 meteorite |
Minerals - elemental composition | XRF | Minerals, Na2O2, MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, P2O5, K2O, CaO, TiO2, MnO, Fe2O3, Trace elements Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, and Nb | |
Minerals - elemental composition | XRF | Elements in general geological materials | |
Minerals - elemental composition | XRF | Mineral deposits, wide-range oxides, SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, Mn3O4, MgO, CaO, Na2O, K2O, P2O5, and SO3 | Zetium - Analysis of iron ores using the WROXI wide-range oxides application |
Minerals - elemental composition | XRF | Mineral deposits, wide-range oxides, SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, Mn3O4, MgO, CaO, Na2O, K2O, P2O5, and SO3 | |
Minerals - elemental composition | XRF | Mineral deposits, wide-range oxides, SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, Mn3O4, MgO, CaO, Na2O, K2O, P2O5, SO3 | WROXI - synthetic wide-range oxide standards for fused bead major and minor element analysis |
Minerals - hydration behavior | XRD | Smectite, vermiculite-like clays, and some hydrous micas | XRD in transmission geometry with controlled temperature and relative humidity |
Minerals - trace elements | XRF | Trace elements in minerals | Zetium - Trace element analysis of geological materials using Zetium and Pro-Trace |
Olivines - phase identification, crystal structure refinement | XRD | Olivines, Pyroxenes, Multiferroic materials, and LiCrGe2O6 | Investigation of the crystal structure of the pyroxene LiCrGe2O6 |
Rocks and soils - elemental composition | XRF | Cd, Sn, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Le, and Nd in rocks and soils | |
Sn-W-Pb Ore - mineralogical composition | XRD | Sn-W-Nb Ore | |
Sulfide deposits - mineral variations | UV/Vis/NIR/ SWIR | Sulfide deposits, Tulks Volcanic Belt, Central Newfoundland. Very good examples of how to use NIR in an exploration project. |
Minerals processing
As technology improves and opens up exciting new possibilities, minerals processing has become increasingly automated. At Malvern Panalytical, we’re always coming up with new tools and equipment to do new things with slurries, grains, and sands. Take a look below to find out more about how these tools enable new minerals processing research!
Minerals Processing | Method | Sample | Application Note Title (Link) |
|---|---|---|---|
Aluminosilicates - sample preparation for XRF | SPE | Sand and Aluminosilicates | Determination of the Composition of Sand and Aluminosilicates Using Borate Fusion for XRF Analysis |
Calcium Carbonate - particle size | LD | Calcium carbonate | Using on-line particle size analysis to improve precipitated calcium carbonate production efficiency |
Gypsum - particle size and shape | MDRS | Gypsum slurry | Analyzing gypsum slurries using the Morphologi automated image analysis system |
Heavy metal sands - mineralogical composition | XRD | Heavy Metal Sands (Titanium, Zirconium, Thorium) | Analysis of heavy mineral sands for industrial process control |
Limestone - elemental composition | XRF | Limestone: CaO, Al2O3, SiO2, MgO, and Fe2O3 with traces of Sr, K, Mn, P, S, Ti, and Pb | Quick quantification of major and trace compounds in limestone |
Limestone - elemental composition | XRF | Limestone/dolomite | |
Limestone - elemental concentration | XRF | Limestone, Al2O3, SiO2, MgO, Fe2O3 with races MnO, P2O5, and Pb | |
Limestone - sample preparation for XRF | SPE | Limestone, metals in lime and limestone | Determination of metals in lime and limestone using borate fusion for ICP-OES |
Mining
As one of our primary industries, mining and extracting metals and fuels is at the heart of everything we do. Research and innovation in this field focuses on finding new ways to make processes such as extraction and refining more efficient. We’ve put together a selection of examples on how our analytical instruments can be part of your mining engineering solutions. Check them out below to discover more!
Mining | Method | Sample | Application Note Title (Link) |
|---|---|---|---|
Ag and Au ore processing - elemental concentration | XRF | Ag and Au on activated carbons (from the pulp and leach processes in precious metal ore processing) | |
Ag in ore - elemental concentration | XRF | Ag in Ore | |
Base metal sulfides - elemental concentration | XRF | Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Co, Mo, Bi, Sb, Cd, Ag, Au, Se, and Te in sulfide ores | |
Bauxite - elemental composition | XRF | Ni, Zn, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Mg, Al, Si in Al2O3, Fe2O3 and TiO2 | Analysis of major and minor elements in bauxite samples prepared as fused beads |
Bauxite - elemental composition | XRF | Bauxite | Zetium - Analysis of bauxite using the WROXI wide-range oxides application |
Bauxite - elemental composition | XRF | Bauxite (hydrated alumina, Al2O3, Fe2O3, Si, Fe, Ti + trace metal oxides) | Zetium - Quantification of major and minor elements in bauxite prepared as fused beads |
Bauxite - grade control | XRD | Hematite, goethite, and magnetite, as well as the gangue minerals gibbsite Al(OH)3, kaolinite Al2Si2O5(OH)4, and quartz SiO2 | |
Bauxite - sample preparation for XRF | SPE | Bauxite (hydrated alumina, Al2O3, Fe2O3 + trace metal oxides) | |
Bauxite/Iron Ore - mineralogical composition | XRD | Iron Ore, Bauxite | X-ray diffraction applications for the mining industry |
Chromium ores - sample preparation for ICP-OES | SPE | Chromic oxide (Cr2O3), in which the proportions of Mg2+, Fe2+ and Cr3+, Al3+, and Fe3+ may vary | |
Copper Mining - agglomeration optimization | UV/Vis/NIR/ SWIR | Copper, acid, and water | Potential Cost Savings from Agglomeration Optimization in Copper Mining |
Copper Ores - mineralogical analysis | UV/Vis/NIR/ SWIR | Copper Ores (good model results on a good-sized data set for quantitative mineralogy) | |
Copper ore - mineralogical composition | XRD | 23 minerals in copper ore including chalcopyrite CuFeS2, cuprite Cu2O, tenorite CuO, and sulfates such as brochantite Cu4[(OH)6(SO4)] and serpierite Ca(Cu, Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6•3H2O | |
Iron ore - elemental composition | XRF | Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, V, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn ores in iron ore | |
Iron ore - elemental composition | XRF | Fe2O3 containing Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, and As | Faster analysis of iron ores with Zetium and SumXcore technology |
Iron ore – grading general article (not specific to our product) | UV/Vis/NIR/ SWIR | Iron ore samples from Noamnudi mines, Jharkhand, India (Hematite, Magnetite, Limonite, and Siderite) | |
Iron ore - mineralogical composition | XRD | Iron ore | |
Iron ore - mineralogical composition | XRD | Iron ore, goethite, hematite, gibbsite-kaolinite-quartz | |
Iron ore - oxide content and basicity | XRD | FeO content and basicity | Analysis of iron sinter by X-ray diffraction reduces CO2 emissions |
Iron Ore - sample preparation for elemental analysis | SPE | NaT flux to fuse iron ore | Using sodium tetraborate (NaT) flux to prepare iron ores by fusion for XRF analysis |
Iron Ore - sample preparation for elemental analysis | SPE | Iron Ore, fused beads using Borate Fusion | |
Nickel ore - elemental composition | XRF | Ni, Co, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Al, Cr, Ca, and Si in nickel ore | |
Phosphates - elemental and mineralogical composition | XRD | Mining for Phosphates - Yara's Mine in Finland | |
Phosphates - elemental composition | XRF | High phosphate minerals, production of phosphoric acid - including Fe2O3, Al2O3, and SiO2 | Zetium - Analysis of phosphates using the WROXI wide-range oxides application |
Rock face - mineral libraries | UV/Vis/NIR/ SWIR | Model Mine face (rock face) | On the Development of a Hyperspectral Library for Autonomous Mining Systems |
Explicación de las abreviaturas
Nuestros productos y tecnologías se describen en las Páginas de productos. A continuación, encontrará una referencia rápida de las propiedades medidas por nuestros instrumentos, junto con el nombre de la medición y su abreviatura. Haga clic en cada método para obtener más información.
|
Abreviatura |
Nombre del método |
Instrumentos |
Propiedad medida |
|---|---|---|---|
|
DLS |
Zetasizer |
Tamaño molecular, radio hidrodinámico RH, tamaño de la partícula, distribución del tamaño, estabilidad, concentración, aglomeración |
|
|
ELS |
Zetasizer |
Potencial zeta, carga de partículas, estabilidad de suspensión, movilidad de proteínas |
|
|
ITC |
MicroCal ITC |
Afinidad de unión, termodinámica de reacciones moleculares en solución |
|
|
DSC |
Microcal DSC |
Desnaturalización (desplegado) de moléculas grandes, estabilidad de macromoléculas |
|
|
GCI |
Creoptix WAVEsystem |
Cinética de unión en tiempo real y afinidad de unión, sin etiquetas con fluídicos |
|
|
IMG |
Morphologi 4
|
Obtención de imágenes de partículas, medición automatizada de formas y tamaños
|
|
|
MDRS |
Morphologi 4-ID |
Obtención de imágenes de partículas, medición automatizada de formas y tamaños, identificación química y detección de contaminantes |
|
|
LD |
Mastersizer Spraytec Insitec Parsum |
Tamaño de las partículas, distribución del tamaño |
|
|
NTA |
NanoSight |
Tamaño de las partículas, distribución del tamaño y concentración |
|
|
SEC o GPC |
OMNISEC |
Tamaño molecular, peso molecular, estado oligomérico, tamaño y estructura molecular de polímeros o proteínas |
|
|
SPE |
Le Neo LeDoser Eagon 2 El OxAdvanced M4 rFusion |
Preparación de muestras como perlas fusionadas para FRX, preparaciones de solución de peróxido para ICP, pesaje de fundente para la fabricación de perlas |
|
|
UV/Vis/NIR/ SWIR |
Espectrometría infrarroja de onda corta ultravioleta/visible/con infrarrojo cercano |
LabSpec FieldSpec TerraSpec QualitySpec |
Identificación y análisis de materiales, humedad, minerales, contenido de carbono. Verificación del terreno para técnicas espectroscópicas transportadas por el aire y por satélite. |
|
PFTNA |
CNA |
Análisis elemental en línea |
|
|
XRD-C |
Aeris Empyrean |
Refinamiento de la estructura cristalina molecular, identificación y cuantificación de la fase cristalina, relación cristalino a amorfo, análisis del tamaño de la cristalización |
|
|
XRD-M |
Empyrean X’Pert3 MRD(XL) |
Tensión residual, textura |
|
|
XRD-CT |
Imágenes de absorción de rayos X por tomografía computarizada |
Empyrean |
Imágenes en 3D de sólidos, porosidad y densidad |
|
SAXS |
Empyrean |
Nanopartículas, tamaño, forma y estructura |
|
|
GISAXS |
Dispersión de rayos X con ángulo pequeño e incidencia por roce |
Empyrean |
Superficies y películas finas nanoestructuradas |
|
HR-XRD |
Empyrean X’Pert3 MRD(XL) |
Películas finas y epitaxiales, composición, deformación, grosor, calidad |
|
|
XRR |
Empyrean X’Pert3 MRD(XL) |
Superficies y películas finas, espesor de la película, rugosidad de la superficie y de la interfaz |
|
|
XRF |
Epsilon Zetium Axios FAST 2830 ZT |
Composición elemental, concentración elemental, elementos traza, detección de contaminantes |