Welcome to IAC Petrographic Services

We provide a full range of commodities identification and processing support for the mining and metallurgical industries from exploration to extraction, including general elemental analysis (XRF), X-ray Diffraction, and microscopic evaluation. We are also pleased to offer Scanning Electron Microscopy, Electron Microprobe, and QEMSCAN analysis.

Inspectorate America Corporation’s Petrographic Services division was acquired from Crescent Technology, Inc in July, 2009. It includes a highly experienced and dedicated staff of degreed Petrologists, well trained in analytical and process mineralogy.

Petrographic analysis is becoming ever more vital to the mining industry, as banks and bankable feasibilities have begun requiring mineralogical ore assessments, exploration and mining companies are continually forced to deal with new types of ore deposits and mill feeds which change on a monthly basis and require informed solutions to processing. Our mineralogical assessments support the mining industry by identifying new resources and problem ores before they are mined and processed. This information is especially important to metallurgical process development, as particle mineral analysis (mineral locking) information determines an ore’s response to processing. Mineral intergrowth textures and sizes present in a deposit affect a metal’s maximum recovery. These parameters can ultimately mean the difference between a mineral deposit’s profitability and loss.

Our clients have included Freeport-MacMoRan Mining Properties, Inspectorate America, Chevron Oil and Gas, DynMcDermott, Schlumberger, Barrick Gold, ConocoPhillips, Kennecott Copper, and Newmont Mining Company.

Contact Us

Inspectorate America Corp.
Petrographic Services
101 Woodland Hwy
Belle Chasse, LA 70037 USA
TEL: 504-392-7660
FAX: 504-393-5248
Email: petrographic.lab@inspectorate.com

Technical Expertise

Microscopy - Reflected and transmitted polarized light are used for commodities identification, modal analysis, mineral locking assessments, and whole rock classification by thin section.

X-ray Diffraction (XRD) - Qualitative X-ray diffraction assessment, with identification of over 40,000 crystalline materials. Results are semi-quantifiable via x-ray fluorescence or by chemical assaying with a detection limit of ~1%. More precise concentrations of components require a semi-quantitative X-ray diffraction pattern interpretation via Reitveld Refinement (TOPAS software).

XRF - Wave dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry with simultaneous elemental analysis of up to 25 elements.

SEM - Scanning Electron Microscopy, with wave dispersive analysis, is useful for elemental mapping and detection.

Electron Microprobe – Electron probe studies produce point analysis of materials, with quantitative elemental abundances. It is used to identify rare minerals for which optical data is lacking or distinguishing between minerals with similar optical properties. The exact chemistry beneath the beam, including contamination or concentration percentages, can be determined.

QEMSCAN – for Quantitative Bulk Mineral Analysis and Particle Mineral Analysis. QEMSCAN combines conventional optical microscopy methods with the elemental mapping overlay techniques of SEM. This method provides robust statistical analytical results from which multiple deportments may be undertaken. In addition, full Particle Mineral Analysis is provided, with mineral liberation, grain and particle size and association determinations available for all minerals.

Photomicrography

Coal & Coke Petrography – single and blended coal.

Chemical Analysis

Laser particle Size Analysis & Screen Analysis

Package Services

Thin section / Polished Slab / Reflected Light Mount Descriptions (General) “Visual estimation of mineral abundance, crystal morphology, texture, grain size, sorting, types of locking, estimated liberation and locking, w/2 photos”

Thin section / Polished Slab / Reflected Light Mount Analysis “Qualitative determination of mineral abundance (by Point Count, 500/fraction), crystal morphology, texture, porosity, gangue mineral associations, grain size, sorting, mineral liberation and locking, w/2 photos” up to 5 fractions

Geochemical Analysis Package (XRD/XRF) “Includes bulk sample XRD analysis with Reitveld Refinement and general XRF Analysis containing a 25 standard element suite”

Bulk and Particle Mineral Analysis “Statistical modal analysis (by Point Count, 500/fraction), liberation and locking profile, ore and gangue mineral associations (bulk ore and by individual ore mineral), gangue and ore grain and particle sizes, brief discussion containing observations, forecasts and recommendations, with supporting tables, figures and photos” up to 5 fractions.

Semi-quantitative Bulk Mineral Analysis “Bulk modal analysis (2,000 counts per sample), bulk XRD analysis w/Reitveld refinement, liberation and locking profile, ore and gangue mineral associations (bulk ore and by individual ore mineral)”

Bulk Mineral Analysis with Degree of Locking Study “Bulk modal analysis (2,000 counts per sample), bulk liberation and locking profile with ore mineral degree of locking study (up to 5 ore minerals), ore and gangue mineral associations (bulk ore and by individual ore mineral), gangue and ore grain and particle sizes”.

Complete Petrographic Analysis (Semi-quantitative Bulk and Particle Mineral Analysis) “Petrographic evaluation of core, rock, or metallurgical test samples for the determination of reservoir or ore-deposit quality: Includes core and/or sample description, screen analysis, thin-section and/or polished-mount sample preparation, size-by-size statistical analyses of bulk mineral composition by point count (500 counts per fraction), locking and liberation profile with degree of locking studies on up to 8 minerals (ore or gangue), ore and gangue mineral associations (bulk ore and by individual ore mineral, gangue and ore grain and particle sizes, bulk XRD analysis w/ Reitveld refinement, general XRF analysis* package containing a 25 element suite. The final report provides full assessments of all analyses, with supporting tables, figures, photos and descriptions”