Mineralogy

Mineralogical or petrographical methods allow a comprehensive analysis of the mineral stock, as well as a description of the microstructure or individual mineral grains.

We offer X-ray graphic analyses (XRD) on powder samples for the investigation of the mineralogical composition. You have the choice between a qualitative evaluation or a semi-quantitative mineral analysis using Rietveld modelling. For the determination of the proportion of swellable clay minerals, we prepare special texture preparations (swollen, burnt).

By means of polarization microscopic examinations of thin sections, we can determine minor constituents of your sample that are not detectable by XRD. Very small components can be detected by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and clearly identified by coupled geochemical analysis. We estimate the mineral contents via a graphical evaluation from the microscopic images. A petrographic description provides additional information regarding grain size and shape, porosity, mineral association, alteration, etc.

By means of thermal analyses we can also determine specific weight loss as well as characteristic transformation or melting temperatures of minerals and mineral mixtures by means of thermogravimetry coupled with differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC) in the temperature range of 20-1400 °C.

We will be pleased to advise you in order to determine the appropriate analyses for your problem.

Radiographic analysis

D8 Discover, Brucker

Method	Sample material	Statement
Powder diffraction (XRD)	Pulverized ores, soils and rocks; amount > 10 mg - 2 g	Qualitative, semi-quantitative mineral stock
Texture preparations (unconditioned, glycolized, burnt)	Gravimetrically separated clay constituents	Specific characterization of clay minerals, identification of swellable clay minerals

Microscopy on thin sections

Tesca Vega; resolution

Method	Sample material	Statement
Polarization microscopy	Thin section	Mineral composition, grain size, grain shape, porosity, alteration, association
Scanning electron microscope (SEM) coupled with X-ray fluorescence	Thin section	High resolution information (nm to µm) on mineral composition, grain shape, surface properties etc.

Thermal analysis

STA 409 PC, Netzsch

Crucible	Atmosphere	Heating rate	Sample quantity
Platinum/Corundum	air, N2	< 50K / min	≤20-30 mg

Determination of weight changes (>0.1%), identification of exo- and endothermic reactions, determination of reaction temperatures (outgassing, mineral transformation, melting temperature).