The other day, some colleagues and I were looking over the shoulder of an experienced geochemist that I have worked with a lot over the years.
He was demonstrating his scanning electron microscope and how it was using advanced software to identify metals and minerals of interest in a sample that someone had sent him.
The screen was coloring the various minerals, and identifying them, and then it tallied up the amount of each mineral and metal in the specimen. By comparing these pictures and assuming it is representative of the deposit as a whole, you can determine whether or not the deposit is valuable enough to pursue with further testing and possibly mining and separation.
One of metals immediately struck us on his screen: “Electrum”
Electrum is a gorgeous alloy of both gold and silver.
It was referred to by the ancients as “white gold.”
It had been used millenia ago for coins and cups and plates. If you look at pictures of it, it has a complex and beautiful shine. Plus, it has such an intriguing name.
Electrum.
Anyway, it’s one of the interesting things that can be found by using a laboratory with access to some of the best equipment and analysts around. For instance, through our lab services, we can do:
– Sand testing of all types including industrial sand and frac sand testing
– Clay testing and characterization using x-ray powder diffraction (XRD) testing
– Mineral and metals analysis of ore using scanning electron microscope (SEM) testing
– Bentonite clay testing for use in various industries and drilling grade bentonite
– Barite mineral testing for use as drilling grade barite and other industries
– Much more (just call and ask!)
Who knows, maybe you have some Electrum on your hands?
To figure out what you have for sand, minerals, and metals, go here!
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