Applied Mineralogy

Helford Geoscience LLP provides specialist consultancy services in a range of applied geoscience projects. We have expertise in mineral identification and characterisation using a range of methods including transmitted and reflected light microscopy, cathode-luminescence microscopy, manual scanning electron microscopy with linked EDS analysis, automated SEM-EDS analysis using QEMSCAN® technology, X-Ray Diffraction, X-Ray Fluorescence and Electron Microprobe analysis. The main areas of application where we provide expertise are:

• Ore deposit geology and mineralogy
• Mineralogy of ore concentrates and tailings
• Sediment provenance studies
• Reservoir diagenesis
• Heavy mineral analysis and inter-well correlation
• Environmental mineralogy, including soil, sediment and atmospheric dust analysis
• Textural and petrographic analysis
• Analysis of ceramics and other mineral products
• Forensic geoscience

Recent applied mineralogy projects include: characterisation of the mineralogy of Ta-Nb ore concentrates and tailings to improve recovery; examination of volcanic and metamorphic hosted gold mineralization; examination of secondary arsenic minerals on buildings and point sources for arsenic poisoning of cattle; examination of Bronze age ceramics; characterisation of mineral precipitates from mine drainage; examination of rocks, sediments and soils in forensic investigations.

Recent scientific publications
Power, M.R., Pirrie, D., Jedwab, J. & Stanley, C.J. 2004. Platinum-group element mineralization in an As-rich magmatic sulphide system, Talnotry, southwest Scotland. Mineralogical Magazine, 68, 395-411.

Pirrie, D., Butcher, A.R., Power, M.R., Gottlieb, P. & Miller, G.L. 2004. Rapid quantitative mineral and phase analysis using automated scanning electron microscopy (QEMSCAN®); potential applications in forensic geoscience. Geological Society, London, Special Publication, 232, 123-136.

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