Geochemistry through Exploration:
The minerals exploration industry needs geochemical research.
In the last two decades, the advent of responsive, rapid throughout instrumentation has revolutionised exploration geochemistry. At Sanray, large multi-element packages with detection limits commensurate with crustal abundances of analytes are available at reasonable prices for Total Quality Assurance exploration. AAS and ICP-OES suites are also available in limited quantities to meet the needs of specific programmes. Multi-purpose aqua regia, four acid “complete” digests, and specialised biogeochemical and partial digests specifically for greenfields exploration are among the digests available.
Decomposition of mineral samples:
The decomposition technique to be used is one of the first things to think about when selecting an exploration process.
Acid digestion and fusions are two sample decomposition techniques:
- Digestion with Aqua Regia
- Digestions of a Variety of Acids
- XRF Analysis of Trace Elements
- Geochemistry of the Partial Digest
- Biogeochemistry
- Geochemistry of water
Instrumentation for multi-element testing:
ICP-OES, ICP-MS, XRF, and AAS are the most widely used research tools.
Because of their simple, virtually simultaneous multi-element capabilities, ICP-OES and ICP-MS are commonly used.
Where a single element or a small number of elements are needed, AAS is typically used.
In exploration samples, XRF pressed powder is routinely used for trace element analysis, while XRF fused bead is used for major element analysis.