Why Petrolab?

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
Latest News
Congratulations!
Many congratulations are due to Mariola Zajac for her recent achievement.
read moreIOM3 – 42nd Annual Cement and Concrete Conference
Next week Bradley Staniforth will be attending the 42nd Annual Cement and Concrete conference in London presenting two pieces of work related to Irish defective concrete and I.S.465
read moreReinforced Autoclaved Aerated concrete (RAAC) – Basic composition & petrography
An extended article from Bradley Staniforth CEng around the petrography of RAAC concrete and the main durability concerns.
read more