An Introduction to ZEISS Mineralogic Mining and the correlation of light microscopy with automated mineralogy: a case study using BMS and PGM analysis of samples from a PGE-bearing chromitite prospect

摘要

The release of ZEISS Mineralogic Mining has provided an extra dimension to the world of Automated Mineralogy (AM) through the utilization of a fully quantitative Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) mineral classification system and advanced image analysis capabilities. A key point of difference for Mineralogic Mining is the way mineralogy is classified by using the wt% contribution of the elements present, and thus, the minerals stoichiometry. This method provides the operator a more accurate, flexible and efficient method for generating mineral classifications, as well as providing a direct measurement of assay and chemical composition. In combination, ZEISS have developed the unique capability to correlate Light Microscope (LM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and AM coloured mineral maps for more efficient and seamless analysis between these techniques in order to make the most of the information each technique provides. This paper describes the ZEISS Mineralogic Mining capabilities and workflow, and provides an example of correlating these techniques for locating and identifying Base Metal Sulphides (BMS) and Platinum-Group Minerals (PGM) from a PGE-bearing chromitite prospect.