Automated Mineralogy
Equipped with optical and electron microscopes, and the latest generation of automated mineralogy systems, the GeMMe automated mineralogy equipment enables complete mineralogical analysis:
- Modal mineralogy
- Calculated assay
- Element deportment
- Mineral association
- Liberation, locking
- Textures
- Granulometry
Mineralurgy
Mineralogy must be at the service of mineralurgy at all stages of its processes, but this is an interaction that is not often considered. URSTM can answer the most specific mineralogical questions to explain the performance of concentrators and possibly improve them. URSTM has a set of tests related to process optimization (in collaboration with the Cégep de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue) and can mineralogically monitor each processing step. She is capable of:
- Sample preparation and grinding
- Cyanidation and gravimetric tests
- Grindability index (Work Index)
- Flotation tests (Denver or test bench)
Our know-how
OM: optical microscope, SEM-EDS: scanning electron microscope, AM: Automated mineralogy, XRD: X-ray diffraction, EPMA: electron microprobe, LA-ICP-MS: laser ablation coupled with a mass spectrometer.
Studied samples
Our mineralogy laboratory is able to carry out mineralogical characterization on several types of samples:
- geological rocks of all lithologies
- mineralized cores from exploration and mining projects
- powdered mine tailings and mine waste rock
- settling sludge
- contaminated soils
Our Equipment
For sample preparation
Fully automated optical microscope
Zeiss AxioImager M2m with correlative microscopy
SEM with automated mineralogy software
Zeiss Sigma 300 FEG equipped by two EDS Bruker spectrometers XFlash® 6|30 mm2 and Xtrace icrofluorecence
GeMMe benefits from access to a wide range of mineralogical characterization equipment through its partnerships with European universities and research laboratories: X-Ray diffraction coupled to Rietveld refinement, Laser ablation, Microprobe analyser, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, EBSD, Mossbauer spectrometer.
