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
Our Clients
Petrolab has provided a wide range of services to industry leading clients including:
Latest News
Petrolab Team Building Day Out
As part of Petrolab’s annual tradition, the team enjoyed a fun day out in the sun this July! Finishing up work early, the team shared a delicious lunch at the Bowgie Inn taking in the stunning views over Crantock Bay, before setting out to the nearby Holywell Bay Golf for a friendly round of mini-golf. Congratulations to our Project Mineralogist James Harvey, who claimed top spot with the best score out of 20 participants! And a big thank you to all who could join and make the day such a success. It was a great opportunity to see everyone unwind, have a few laughs and celebrate the hard work and dedication of every member. Thank you for all your continued commitment to Petrolab – we appreciate everything you do. Until next year! ☀️⛳ -The Petrolab Team... read more
EMABM Conference June 2026
As part of Petrolab’s commitment to stay at the forefront of providing excellent geomaterials services, our Principal Geomaterials Scientist Bradley Staniforth participated in the Euroseminar on Microscopy Applied to Building Materials (EMABM) held this June in Copenhagen. What was your key takeaway from the trip? Bradley Staniforth: This being my first EMABM I have attended my real takeaway was the vast amount of contacts I made during the trip. It was such a pleasure meeting and putting faces to people with whom I have either corresponded with or have read work by previously. The sessions ranged from detailed presentations on cement clinker formation to the latest work summarising ASR/ACR and a session on new advancements in analysis techniques across both commercial labs and academia. I came away with some many new ideas to implement and contacts to work with. In addition, the visit to Pelcon’s laboratory on the outskirts of Copenhagen was really beneficial, being able to get hands on with how they have set up their sample preparation laboratory, getting to watch them cast some calclined clay mixes in their mixing facility and getting the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Laugesen himself at the petrographic microscope! Overall the event was an excellent experience and I look forward to continuing Petrolab’s presence at the 2028 EMABM in the Czech Republic. Did you make any presentations? Bradley Staniforth: Yes I gave two presentations the first was on “Petrographic characteristics and liberation metrics associated with crushed construction waste from defective residential dwellings“. This work highlighted important metrics and a new classification scheme I have designed to look at locking, composition,... read more
