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: [email protected]
e-mail 2: [email protected]
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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