Dense Media Separation
The Vancouver laboratory has the first laboratory-scale micro-DMS plant commissioned in North America. The DMS process offers efficient, accurate and environmentally friendly recovery of indicator minerals from exploration samples. The facility has the capacity to process up to 200 samples per week and in five years of production has processed in excess of 10,000 samples with exceptionally accurate results. When necessary, the heavy mineral concentrate produced by the DMS is further refined through a combination of heavy liquids and advanced magnetic separation techniques (permroll, mag scalping, and mag-stream if applicable) to produce a sort-ready concentrate that is screened into size fractions as required by the client. For further information on the DMS methodology and the flow sheets for the Vancouver processing and mineral sorting laboratory, follow this link to the Vancouver DMS Laboratory. 

Heavy-liquid mineral concentration
In Cape Town, sample preparation and conventional heavy mineral separation work is sub-contracted to an affiliated facility on the same premises. Regular quality-control tests are undertaken to ensure that high standards are maintained. Results from every batch of samples are audited using density tracers according to ISO 17025 standards.  For further information on the heavy-liquid mineral concentration process, and QC results, follow this linkto Cape Town Heavy Liquid Concentration. 

Heavy mineral concentrates from all types of unconsolidated exploration and kimberlite samples are examined microscopically by experienced teams of highly trained mineral sorters. High-quality modern binocular microscopes and standardised light sources are used for examination of the concentrate. Quality-control procedures include the re-examination of between 30% and 100% of the samples in a batch, depending on the complexity of the background mineralogy. Kimberlitic indicator mineral (KIM) recovery efficiencies from initial sorting are usually better than 85%, while the quality control procedure ensures the maximum recovery of grains from every sample. Each indicator mineral grain extracted from a sample is visually checked by a Technical Supervisor prior to reporting or further analysis. 

Both the Cape Town and Vancouver sorting labs have on-site or rapid access to SEM facilities where visual mineral identification of difficult minerals can be readily confirmed. Sorting rates vary depending on the grain size, background mineralogy and the abundance of indicator minerals in the sample but are typically in the range of 4 to 20g/hr. 

The Cape Town laboratory is one of the only laboratories in Africa that has achieved ISO 17025 accreditation for this KIM recovery method.

Indicator minerals extracted from exploration samples are described and classified according to their surface features and angularity parameters that can be related to transport distance from their kimberlite source. Mineral Services has successfully applied this approach to grains from a wide range of sediment transport regimes (eg. glacial, fluvial, aeolian).

Standardised Indicator Mineral Assessment of Kimberlite Samples
Mineral Services has developed a specialised method for extracting and analysing indicator minerals from kimberlite. The method delivers representative and reproducible data in respect of both the abundance and the composition of indicator minerals in kimberlite. These data are of great value in determining diamond potential and the characteristics of the mantle sampled by particular kimberlite units.

Our Mantle Mapper™ method has been successfully employed over the last 20 years in the evaluation of the diamond potential of kimberlites on numerous exploration programmes worldwide, including the BHP Billiton Ekati project on which over 150 kimberlites have been assessed using this methodology. The method facilitates early-stage assessment of the diamond potential of kimberlites and the region in which they occur and is particularly useful as a reliable means of prioritising kimberlites for further evaluation.

The Mantle Mapper™ process is available through both the Vancouver and Cape Town facilities. For further information on the process, follow the link to Mantle Mapper™.

Major and minor element compositional analysis of KIMs
Mineral analyses are undertaken using our in-house SEM facility (Cape Town) comprising a LEO 1450 Scanning Electron Microscope fitted with Oxford Instruments wave-length dispersive (WD) and energy dispersive (ED) spectrometers. This is an ISO 17025 accredited facility. Detection limits for major elements measured by ED are 0.1 wt%, while minor elements measured by WD are detected down to 0.01wt%. Analytical work is outsourced when required to partner laboratories in Cape Town and Montreal (Canada), which have demonstrated consistently high-quality results. Analytical quality is maintained by use of appropriate standards, optimised operating conditions, duplicate analyses and examination of previously well-characterised grains in each analytical batch.

For results of a proficiency test of our analytical capabilities, conducted in 2005, follow this link: Results of international analytical quality test.

Trace element analysis of KIMs by La-ICP-MS
Trace element analysis is undertaken on standard mineral grain mounts using a Thermo-Fisher X-Series II quadrupole laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (La-ICP-MS) system at the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Cape Town. It is fitted with a New Wave 213 nm laser. The La-ICP-MS provides highly reproducible trace element data with very low detection limits (e.g. ~ 1 ppm, for Ni in garnet). Ni-in-garnet thermometry, as well as REE analyses, are routinely undertaken using this analytical technique.

Mineral Services’ expert diamond sorters are available for deployment to remote client sites to provide diamond recovery and/ or auditing capabilities.

Microdiamond work
Mineral Services currently subcontracts microdiamond dissolution work to independent facilities. Active management of subcontracted projects provides assurances for quality of results. Residues produced in the microdiamond sample dissolution process are examined by the company’s experienced sorters who are trained and supervised by Dr John Gurney. The microdiamonds are extracted, individually weighed and described in detail according to standard criteria. Size distribution analysis, integration with macrodiamond data and grade modelling services are available through Mineral Services Consulting.

Macrodiamond work
Facilities for the characterisation of rough diamond parcels are available at both the Cape Town and Vancouver laboratories. Diamond descriptions are undertaken or supervised by Dr John Gurney in secure facilities designed to accommodate the security, inspection and storage requirements of such work. Diamond grade and value modelling services are available through Mineral Services Consulting.

Both the Vancouver and Cape Town laboratories outsource the production of thin sections to trusted laboratories. High quality thin sections, probe sections and polished slabs can be produced. Petrographic analyses are undertaken by experienced kimberlite petrologists in Mineral Services’ consulting team.

Services offered range from basic petrographic descriptions, identification of rock type and estimation of diamond-carrying capacity of individual kimberlite samples to comprehensive petrological studies integrated with macroscopic observations from core logging and mapping to define economically relevant geological models and emplacement histories of kimberlite deposits. The level of petrographic study is tailored to meet the specific needs of the client.

Through our Vancouver facility, Mineral Services offers a wide range of petrographic and mineralogical services focused on environmental, metallurgical and ore geology applications. Services include transmitted and reflected light microscopy, XRD and SEM analysis. For further details, follow this link to Mineral Services Consulting.

Our Vancouver laboratory offers a specialist asbestos identification and analysis service to the building restoration, environmental and mining industries. Standard optical microscopy techniques are used and the service is both rapid and cost effective. Hazardous building materials are evaluated in accordance with current environmental regulations.
 
Optical microscopy is the most widely accepted technique for evaluating materials for the presence of asbestos. The technique involves an initial evaluation of the sample under a binocular microscope at magnifications up to 40X. Any fibrous minerals present are separated and mounted onto a glass slide for definitive identification using a polarized light microscope.  The technique enables the analyst to confirm the presence of asbestos, identify the specific type of asbestos present and estimate the abundance of asbestos in the sample.
 
SEM technology is available for complex assignments.