Applied Geoscience Solutions

LABORATORY

LABORATORY SERVICES

Established in 1897, the Council for Geoscience

Laboratory continues to develop and grow.

Our facility offers world-class analytical and

consultative services in primary solid sample

preparation, mineralogy, petrology, geochemistry,

ceramics and coal analyses as well as for

specialised research in applied mineralogy, coal,

the environment, petrology and geochemistry.

We constantly strive towards professionalism

and good customer relations. We encourage

skills development in alignment with the capacity,

performance and expertise of our laboratory

services.

The laboratory offers analytical and research

services that meet the exact requirements of our

clients. Our services are of superior quality and

comply with national and international standards.

Analyses and asessments are done on rocks,

soils, minerals, water and industrial and waste

materials to determine various qualitative and

quantitative aspects of mineralogy, petrology,

physical chemistry and the ceramic sciences.

The availability of a range of instrumentation

enables our analysts to employ multidisciplinary

approaches in solving problems and assisting

our clients in the evaluation of their data.

The services offered by our laboratory include

the following:

A. LABORATORY TECHNIQUES

Our facility offers analytical and research

techniques that are aligned with international

methods and designed to meet our clients’

needs. Our products are of superior quality and

comply with national and international standards.

The availability of a range of instruments and

techniques enables our scientists and technical

staff to employ multidisciplinary approaches

to solve problems and to assist clients in the

evaluation of their data. The facility has the

following dedicated competencies:

1. Sample preparation

A fully equipped sample preparation facility is

available that plays a vital role in providing our

analysts with compositionally representative

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subsamples of rocks, soils and ores, sediments

and any other solid sample type of mainly

geological origin submitted by our clients. A

series of specialised instruments, including jaw

crushers, rotary splitters and mills are available

to fracture, reduce and pulverise samples to a

homogeneous powder with a particle size of up

to less than 75 microns.

2. Petrography

Rocks, soils, ores and many other materials

consist of minerals. The study of mineralogy

is therefore crucial to the understanding

of the composition, occurrence, physical

properties and classification of these materials.

Additionally, petrology explores the origin, history

and structure of igneous, metamorphic and

sedimentary rocks, as well as soils.

Petrographic techniques offered by the

laboratory include:

• Basic and detailed descriptions of rocks and

modal and strain analyses.

• Analyses for the alkali-aggregate reaction

potential of rocks used in construction.

• Petrographic sample preparation services

are available and include the cutting of rock

samples to make standard and large-format

polished thin sections, the production of

double-polished wafers and the polishing of

rock specimens and stubs.

Fig.1 Jaw crusher.

Fig.2 Rotary splitters. Fig.3 Polishing machine.

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A mineral separation facility is available where

specific mineral concentrates can be extracted

from geological samples. Heavy mineral

separates are routinely prepared for various

geological investigations, most commonly

zircon for the age determination of igneous

rocks suites.

3. Mineralogy (XRD, SEM and ceramics)

X-ray Diffraction (XRD) is a basic and widely

used investigative technique in mineralogy. The

qualitative and quantitative mineral composition

of a sample can be estimated, polytypes, in

particular, can be identified and the crystallinity

of mineral species can be assessed. XRD is an

extremely powerful tool used for the examination

of clay materials.

Fig.4 Petrographic quality assessment microscope.

Fig.5 X-ray diffractometer.

Fig.6 Scanning electron microscope with EDS.

The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with

a microanalysis system (Energy Dispersive

Spectroscope — EDS) attached to it is utilised

for imaging and the X-ray microanalysis of rocks,

minerals and industrial materials. Scanning

Electron Microscopy is widely utilised in applied

mineralogy investigations and increasingly

more in environmental studies where the

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characterisation of microscopic particulate

matter is required.

Fig.7 ED-XRF.

In conjunction with other analytical techniques,

SEM is a strong tool for solving various

industrial problems associated with soil/water

contamination, process control, product failure/

corrosion and product development. It provides

the researcher with topographic imaging of the

material surface with qualitative and quantitative

compositional information of the matrix to assist

in scientific problem solutions and enhances the

quality of the scientific research product.

The ceramics section of the laboratory evaluates

the physical properties of new raw material

prospects and those of existing quarries for use

in the brick and tile industries. The ceramics

section routinely characterises raw materials in

terms of their mineral and chemical composition,

assists industry with research and the

development of product mixes and with problem

solving in respect of raw materials, firing and

other aspects of manufacturing. The section is

also in the position to do exploration work and to

characterise new raw material deposits.

4. Chemistry

Chemical analyses of research quality are

routinely performed on soil, mineral, water,

industrial and waste materials using state-of-

the-art instrumentation. A consultation service is

offered to assist in data interpretation, sampling

or analytical techniques as well as in the

development of new analytical methods.

Geological samples are routinely decomposed

using fusion or acid digestion and analysed

for their major, trace or rare earth element

composition using Inductively Coupled Plasma

Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) or Inductively

Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry

(ICP-OES). Matrices such as coal or peat are

analysed using ICP-MS. Solid samples are

analysed for their mercury, carbon or sulfur

contents using direct analysis instruments.

Fig.8 An ICP-MS spectrometer.

Water samples are analysed in order to

determine their major and trace metals as well

as metalloids content using ICP-MS. Anions are

determined using a discreet analyser.

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Fig.9 A discreet analyser.

5. XRF

X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry

measures the emission of characteristic

“secondary” (or fluorescent) X-rays from a

material that has been excited by bombardment

with high-energy X-rays.

Fig.10 An energy dispersive-wavelength dispersive

XRF spectrometer.

A wide range of sample types such as rocks,

soils, ceramics, building materials, mineral

wastes, sediments and ores are analysed

in respect of major and trace elements. Our

scientists also offer a consultation service to

assist in data interpretation, sampling, research

and the development of customised analytical

services.

One of the state-of-the-art XRF spectrometers

in our facility is equipped with simultaneous

technology for the quick analysis of large

batches of samples (e.g. for geochemical

exploration, mapping or large sampling projects).

6. Coal

The facility has the capability of conducting

coal, biomass, char, mine tailings, oil and

shale quality assessment analysis with various

well-known analytical methods using modern

analytical instruments. We use standard SABS

and ASTM and ISO methods for secondary

sample preaparation and for analysis. The

section also participates in the following

international and national intralaboratory

proficiency testing schemes: Coal Concept

and Coal Spec. Some of our scientific staff are

accredited in different areas within the coal

petrography discipline. The following analytical

assessment services are offered:

i. Proximate analysis

• Ash

• Moisture

• Volatile matter

• Fixed carbon by difference

ii. Ultimate analysis

• Carbon

• Hydrogen

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• Nitrogen

• Total sulphur

Fig.11 HPVA gas adsorption isotherm.

Fig.12 CHNS furnace.

iii. HPVA (100 bar) capacity gas absorption

isotherms

• Coalbed methane gas adsorption

measurements

• CO2 gas storage measurements for CCS

(carbon capture and storage)

• Shale gas adsorption measurements

• Surface area analysis

Fig.13 Coal petrographic microscope.

iv. Coal petrography (accredited by the

International Committee for Coal and Organic

Petrology)

• Maceral analysis

• Vitrinite reflectance analysis

• Dispersed organic matter by vitrinite

reflectance measurements

• Microlithotype analysis

• Carbon particle type analysis

v. Free swelling index

vi. Calorific value determinations.

The coal laboratory section participates in

international and national proficiency testing

programmes to ensure that it adheres to good

quality standards which leads to good quality

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results. The coal petrography process is ICCP

accredited for single coal and coal blend

ICCP accreditation programmes. The coal

laboratory section has competent staff who are

well trained in all the coal quality assessment

analytical methods of the section.

7. Petrophysics

The facility focusses on the measurement of

physical rock properties directly related to

geophysical methods. Our facility boasts a

well-equipped section for the measurement of

palaeomagnetic and physical properties.

Fig.14 Spinner magnetometer.

The section is capable of performing

measurements of the following properties:

i. Magnetic susceptibility (mass and volume)

ii. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS)

iii. Normal remanent magnetisation (NRM)

[direction and intensity]

iv. Thermomagnetic analysis

v. Magnetic remanence and Königsberger ratio

vi. Bulk density (wet and dry)

vii. Electrical resistivity (time domain and

frequency domain)

viii. Induced polarisation (time domain and

frequency domain)

ix. Dielectric parameter analysis

x. Seismic velocity (p-wave and s-wave).

Fig.15 Ultrasonic pulse velocity instrument.

Fig.16 Time-domain resistivity and sample core

induced polarisation (IP) tester.

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A database containing physical property data

from a wide range of South African lithologies is

available for queries.

8. Environmental analyses

The facility undertakes laboratory-based

investigations of natural and anthropogenic

contamination.

Fig.17 Autotitrator burette stand.

Test methods and services currently available are:

i. Acid-base accounting (ABA)

ii. Paste pH and electrical conductivity (EC)

iii. Sequential extraction

iv. Inorganic toxicity characteristic leaching

procedure (inorganic TCLP)

v. Alkalinity test

vi. Acidity test

vii. Batch leach

viii. Multistage batch leach

ix. Column leach

x. Humidity cell leach testing.

B. CONTACT US AT:

Tel. 1: 012 841 1191

Tel. 2: 012 841 1275

e-mail 1: info@geoscience.org.za

e-mail 2: laboratory@geoscience.org.za

website: www.geoscience.or.za

Our terms and conditions are available on our

website or on request

Our pricelist is available on request.

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