Niton XL5 Plus XRF Mine Analyzer
Southern Piedmont Materials has purchased and received our new XRF Analyzer. This tool has become a critical part of our exploration and ore analysis, and in completing assays.
In metallurgy, to assay simply means to analyze an ore or alloy in order to determine the quantity of gold, silver, or other metal in it. There are several precious metals techniques used to assay precious metals including the classic method of choice, lead collection fire assay, aqua regia digestion, accelerated cyanide leach or Bulk Leach Extractable Gold (BLEG) are other options available. Platinum and palladium can be detected by some of these methods, but not all. Several of these methods are toxic.
Our XRF uses X-Ray pulses to quickly determine the metals makeup of samples in the field, and that helps to focus us on the right areas to collect samples. These samples can then be assayed back in the lab with this same tool. The samples are ground and pressed into uniform pellets that are then assayed to determine the grams per ton of each metal in the sampled ore. Theses assays are just as accurate as standard assays, save us hundreds of dollars per sample and shortens the results window from days to minutes. Our unit is also capable of detecting platinum, palladium, and rhodium. The first field trip with the unit to an area where we had previous samples, showed that palladium was running with the silver. Considering that the silver spot price is 0.76 cents a gram and pallidum is $76 per gram, this was an unexpected but very welcome surprise. It was discovered because we could easily sample hundreds of rocks in the field in one day and get instant results.
Additionally, when we start processing, we will be able to accurately sample our concentrates and make any necessary configuration changes to the plant and immediately see the results, increasing profitability. At the end of the process, an added Precious Metals Circuit is capable of determining the purity of the gold and silver Doré bars produced. We will get better prices for our bars because we know the true purity of them.
