Mineral Exploration Geochemistry

Geochemical testing for the minerals exploration industry.

The advent of sensitive, rapid throughput instrumentation such as ICP-OES and ICP-MS used to complement one another has revolutionised exploration geochemistry in the last two decades. Large multi-element packages with detection limits commensurate with crustal abundances of the analytes are available at Intertek for exploration purposes at affordable prices.Limited AAS and ICP-OES suites are also available to suit the requirements of particular programs. A variety of digests are offered which include multi-purpose aqua regia, two and four acid "total" digests along with specialised biogeochemical and partial digests specifically for greenfields exploration.

Mineral sample decomposition: 

One of the first considerations in choosing an exploration method is the decomposition technique to be employed. Sample decomposition techniques include acid digestion and fusions: 

• Aqua Regia Digestion 
• Single and Multi-Acid Digestions 
• Trace Elements by XRF
• TerraLeach Partial Digest Geochemistry
• Biogeochemistry
• Hydrogeochemistry

Multi-elemental testing instrumentation:  

The most commonly used testing instruments are ICPOES, ICPMS, AAS and XRF.  

ICPOES and ICPMS are widely used because of their convenient, virtually simultaneous multi-element capabilities.  

AAS is generally used where single element work or a small number of elements are required.  

XRF pressed powder is routinely used for trace element analysis in exploration samples while XRF fused bead is applied to major element analysis. 

Request more information to see how Intertek can help your organization with Mineral Exploration Geochemistry.