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BOLETÍN DE LA SOCIEDAD GEOLÓGICA MEXICANA http://dx.doi.org/10.18268/BSGM2010v62n1a1 |
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Técnicas de caracterización mineral y su aplicación en exploración y explotación minera
Techniques of mineral characterization and their use inmining exploration and exploitation
Joan Carles Melgarejo1*, Joaquín A. Proenza1, Salvador Galí1, Xavier Llovet2
1 Departament de Cristal•lografía, Mineralogia i Dipòsits Minerals, Facultat de Geologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès, s/n, 08028, Barcelona.
2 Serveis Científico Tècnics, Universitat de Barcelona. Lluís Solé i Sabarís, 1–3, 08028 Barcelona.
* This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Abstract
This paper is an overview of the main analytical techniques used in mineral characterization, as well as their application to mining exploration and exploitation. Two groups of techniques have been established. The first group includes more frequently used techniques ("conventional techniques"): (i) X–ray powder diffraction and quantitative XRD, (ii) scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X–ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), (iii) cathodoluminiscence, and iv) electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). In contrast, the second group comprises less commonly used and more expensive techniques ("unconventional techniques"): (i) Particle Induced X–Ray Emission (Micro–PIXE), (ii) Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS), (iii) Laser–Ablation–Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS).
The paper covers mainly the fundamentals of the most commonly used analytical techniques in mineral characterization (DRX, SEM–EDS, EMPA), and information on applications of these tools in mining exploration, which can be of major interest in small mining operations.
Key words: Mineral characterization, analytical techniques, X–ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy, electron probe micro analysis
