Mineralogical analysis

• Identification and quantification of valuable and gangue minerals in ores
• Automated Mineralogy (Bulk Modal Analysis, Deportment, Detailed Liberation, GSD, Associations, Theoretical Mineral Liberation, Particle Images)
• Ore characterisation
• Predicting the behaviour of minerals during ore processing
• Mineralogical description and quantitative analysis of mill products
• Quantification of coal, graphite and industrial fuel ash
• The use of ancillary techniques including XRD to further mineralogical analysis
• Ore characterisation including detailed optical microscopy for exploration, ore variability, and remediation.

Petrographic analysis

• Examination of concrete, mortar and render to identify degradation factors.
• Examination of rock, aggregate, building stone and slate.
• Mundic Screening Tests for building structures suspected of containing ‘mundic’ concrete.
• IS465 Screening Tests including Suite A, Suite B and additional Suite C analysis under the instruction of IS465 approved engineers

Sample preparation

Petrolab are experts in materials preparation producing petrographic thin sections from samples and specimens of

• rock
• aggregate
• concrete and other similar materials

We operate the first Pelcon Automatic Thin Section Machine in the UK, which produces high quality thin sections.

Our research has allowed us to push the boundaries of sample preparation to implement new resin technologies and unique powder preparation techniques for polished blocks including:

• representative sample selection
• ability to prepare low sample masses
• successful preparation of coal, graphite and fuel ash for automated mineralogy
• de-agglomeration techniques
• cutting edge impregnation to combat density settling