Laboratories
Sample Preparation Lab
The Geochemistry Lab is equipped with two glass protected lab tables with gas extraction system, prepared for acid dissolution of samples and other toxic reactive manipulation. The lab is mainly applied for sample dissolution for the analyses with Atomic Absorption (AA) and Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) techniques, and also for mineral separation through sequential acid leaching. This lab is also equipped with microbalances, centrifuge device, ultra-pure distillate water, ovens, heaters and other lab materials.
The Mineralogy lab is fundamentally designed for X-Ray Diffraction sample preparation. The main tasks includes agate mortar sample homogenization, for bulk sample analyses, and separation of <2mm fraction for clay mineralogy. This separation is carried out through acid attack and centrifugal separation. The lab contains several balances, ovens, heaters, centrifuges and all necessary lab material
Granulometry Analysis Unit
The unit for grain size determination is prepared with a SediGraph 5100 analyzer, combined with an auto-sampler MasterTech 51, that allows the measurement of grain size distribution on different types of sediments and other materials. These analyses are based on the sedimentation methods following the Stokes law. In order to measure the sedimentation velocity of each particle size, SediGraph 5100 uses a collimator beam of low energy X-ray. Best results are obtained for clay, silts and/or very fine sand fractions. The system is completely automatic, since samples are injected in the mixing chamber and the analytical process is programmed with the software incorporated to the system. All parameters, including Reynolds factor, are determined automatically, avoiding thus random errors associated to manual management.
X-Ray Diffraction Lab
The X-Ray Diffraction Lab is equipped with a Philips PW 1710 device, fully controlled through an specific software (XPowder). This device is connected to an X’Pert Pro MPD Panalytical auto-sampler and X’Celerator detector, which allows a rapid and precise analysis of mineral composition on any geologic material, both qualitatively and quantitatively.
The routine processes include different methods of bulk mineralogy, clay mineralogy and samples prepared with different chemicals and thermal treatments.
X-Ray Fluorescence Unit
The geochemical analysis equipment includes an S4 PIONEER X-RF unit, by Bruker, the most compact 4 kW wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (WDXRF). This unit is dedicated to serve all applications with need for high performance and high sample throughput:
The S4 PIONEER provides highest sensitivity, especially for light elements and traces due to optimized beam geometry and the advanced 4 kW excitation technology. Improved analytical performance for light elements is guaranteed with the very thin Beryllium tube window in combination with optimized excitation parameters. Up to 10 primary beam filters, up to 4 collimators, up to 8 crystals facilitates analytical flexibility; with no compromise in analytical performance.
The Integrated Analytical Intelligence (IAI) of specific software, SPECTRA plus, offers analytical X-ray fluorescence (XRF) software solution for calibration, evaluation and reporting. Software control allows easy start-up own calibrations by guiding the operator through all steps, and providing optimized measurement parameters and easy routine operation. The integrated standardless evaluation for all kind of samples like rocks, minerals, metals, hydrocarbons and all kind of industrial products allows the fast and easy determination of element concentrations from 100 % down to the ppm-level without performing a calibration.