Geochemical Exploration and Survey
In all stages of the geochemical and mineral exploration process, you make decisions based upon site conditions, judgment and experience. Meanwhile, quickly obtaining accurate exploration assay data to guide operations is one of your biggest obstacles to high productivity. The swift acquisition of this data for rapid delineation of ore boundaries and the in-depth, quantitative geochemical analysis of metal concentrations for mine mapping and grade control is critically important for your efficient mining functions.
Benefits At-a-Glance
- Real-time modeling – ability to determine new drilling/soil sampling locations before moving your drill rig
- The ability to send and share XRF data to headquarters gives you the ability to make integrated decisions, receiving necessary input when you need it most
- Infill and step-out decisions made in real time
- No need to re-drill targets
- Reduced lead times – especially important when exploration season is short
Optimizing Mineral Exploration with XRF and GOLDD Technology
Handheld Thermo Scientific Niton x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers, now available with GOLDD technology, are the ideal tools for these demanding jobs. The low detection limits achievable with GOLDD technology – plus light element analysis (Mg, Al, Si, P, S) without helium or vacuum purging – allow you to identify element concentrations at unprecedented low levels, even at or below the averages naturally found in the earth's crust, detecting even the most subtle geochemical anomalies. You benefit in a variety of ways with these remarkable instruments:
- Rapid delineation of geochemical anomalies
- High sample throughput and increased sample density over traditional lab methods
- Direct analysis of drill core and cuttings to dynamically drive mineral exploration programs
- Light element analysis without He purge directly quantifies Al, Si, and Mg levels to perform effective alteration mineral mapping
Real-Time Elemental Analysis
Thermo Scientific Niton XRF analyzers provide you with exploration assay data within seconds, allowing for immediate ore flagging, avoidance of lab turnaround delays, and rapid delineation of ore boundaries.
You get real-time elemental analysis from a variety of sample forms:
- Directly on the mine face
- Bagged samples from survey or drilling operations
- Drill cores and cuttings
- Prepared samples
Lab-Quality Results in the Palm of Your Hand
Our innovative XRF mining analyzers enhance mineral exploration by improving precision and detection limits over previously available handheld XRF instruments. They are the tools to choose for measuring elemental concentrations in: 
- Ores
- Soils
- Sediments, cuttings and cores
- Mill Heads and tails
- Concentrates
- Filter media
- With fast, simple GPS/GIS integration for real-time mapping
Easy to Spot Feature for Geochemical Exploration
You can locate areas of interest on a sample using our integrated color CCD camera (standard on GOLDD models, optional on other models) and the optional small-spot collimation. Then store the test area image along with the analysis data. This helps you isolate inclusions or anomalies in rock faces and drill cores, providing valuable information about the chemical composition of a discrete section of the sample.
Analyzer Versatility Leads to Prompt Decision-Making
With more than 20,000 of our instruments deployed worldwide, and more than 2000 in use in the exploration and mining industries, their ability to obtain instant, nondestructive data in situ can significantly reduce the cost, time, and labor involved in exploration and surveying activities and allows you to make decisions promptly, before samples are dispatched to the laboratory. Contact us today for a demonstration and discover how these versatile instruments can help with your mineral exploration needs.
