LIBS & XRF expertise.
Pressed pellet standards
for mineral exploration
Pressed pellet standards
for mineral exploration
We provide analytical devices and reference materials with supporting equipment and people to enable real-time analytical data creation for your field exploration team.
LIBS and XRF Services, Equipment and Standards
Our experienced team can optimise your exploration objectives:
- Industry leading field-portable analytical equipment. We own and operate portable LIBS and XRF spectrometers
- Sampling & sample preparation equipment
- Calibration standards. CRM's - pressed pellets for LIBS and XRFs
- Reference Materials
- Custom pelletising
- Realtime elemental analysis across the periodic table... from Lithium to UraniumOur LIBS analyser allows in-field validation of lithium in hard rock and soils. With matrix matching, laboratory analysed samples from your site and appropriate sample preparation, LIBS has the capacity to quantitatively estimate lithium grades in the field from 10ppm Li in soils to 3.7% Li in spodumene.
Our pXRFs are ideal for heavier elements from magnesium onwards in the periodic table. pXRFs are robust, and with calibration are our tool of choice for geochemical vectoring.
- Reference Materials and CRM standards: pressed pellets for LIBS and XRFpXRF, and in particular LIBS, require calibration for optimal accuracy. We have developed an extensive collection of Reference Materials (RMs) and Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) for portable LIBS and XRF spectrometers.
Our binder-free pressed pellets are individually protected in screw top capsules that all but eliminate contamination. This ensures you have fit for purpose, uncontaminated standards in the field, the core shed, the lab, or wherever they are needed.
Our LIBS pressed pellets are smaller diameter and constructed at higher pressures to withstand the LIBS laser blast. Binder free construction presents the densest, purest sample for analysis and gives the best analytical results.
Our XRF pressed pellets are 32mm diameter to provide a large sample target for your XRF and with thicker samples to optimise X-ray spectrometry. Light element analysis is much more accurate because of binder-free construction and that there is no signal attenuating XRF film to shoot through.
Learn more about our pressed-pellet standards here.
- Low-tenor lithium in soil samplingWe have developed a rapid soil geochemistry sampling method for LIBS to enable on-the-fly generation of lithium soil grids. We can prepare a LIBS-ready soil sample and assay it faster than you can collect and sieve down a -100micron soil sample. With our own custom software calibrations, our LIBS can replicate low tenor laboratory assays down to 15-20ppm Li. Its quick, repeatable and works with pressed pellets or our slide mounted method.
Sample preparation is crucial to effectively return consistent and repeatable results. Realtime also has field portable diamond saw samplers, sample mills and methods to rapidly generate consistent, repeatable hard rock sample assays.
- Our resultsWe can replicate low-tenor laboratory results for lithium in soils. The adjacent graph show laboratory lithium assays on the X-axis. Pressed pellet assays are in blue and correspond well to lab results.
Same day assay results are transformational for your exploration team. They can now amend subsequent sampling to focus on LIBS assay-backed anomalies in real-time... rather than wait 4-8 weeks for lab results.
- Custom, matrix matched pressed pellets for your laboratory or projectWhilst Reference Materials or CRMs provide definitive assay data for calibration, you can go one better by using your own project specific samples.
The advantage here is that your sample's unique mineral matrix is used when making a Reference Material... and you get more accurate assays from your XRF or LIBS.
Send us an assayed, finely milled sample and we will do the rest. Alternatively, send a bag of rocks and we will do it all - whatever needs to be done. Feel free to contact us to discuss your requirements.
Alternatively, we can provide you with pressed pellets of Standards, Reference Materials or CRMs
Learn more about our pressed-pellet standards here.
Exploration Expertise
We are exploration geologists optimising traditional and new exploration methods to more efficiently explore. Our objective is to assist transforming tenements into orebodies through better work practices and data.
Whilst portable XRF analysers are incredibly valuable field tools, they have limitations as they can't analyse for light elements such as lithium. Our SciAps LIBS analyser is made for light elements. As such, the XRF and LIBS are a formidable duo that provide real-time field data for hard rock analysis and geochemical sampling, across multiple commodities.
We are about delivering in-field analytics to assist exploration teams make informed decisions then and there, rather than wait 1-2 months for conventional laboratory assay turnaround. Our value proposition is to provide near-instantaneous data to optimise your exploration programme, delivering real cost savings and better outcomes, in real-time.
Whilst portable XRF analysers are incredibly valuable field tools, they have limitations as they can't analyse for light elements such as lithium. Our SciAps LIBS analyser is made for light elements. As such, the XRF and LIBS are a formidable duo that provide real-time field data for hard rock analysis and geochemical sampling, across multiple commodities.
We are about delivering in-field analytics to assist exploration teams make informed decisions then and there, rather than wait 1-2 months for conventional laboratory assay turnaround. Our value proposition is to provide near-instantaneous data to optimise your exploration programme, delivering real cost savings and better outcomes, in real-time.
Sample a massive pegmatite outcrop in minutes
We came across this problem in Canada... how do you sample a large, hard outcrop? Demolition diamond saw channel sampling works but we went smaller and faster with a battery operated angle grinder and a cleverly adapted vacuum that cyclones even the finest dust. 5mm wide x 10mm deep channel at 1m/minute. >100g of sample per metre. >90% sample recovery. This collected sample can be sieved and slide mounted for near instantaneous LIBS analysis.
And you virtually eliminate rock dust generation as you saw away. You still need a dust mask but are not going to disappear in a cloud of silica.
Photo shows an early prototype sawing a channel through a house brick virtually dust free. The dust and sample run through a purpose-made pair of dust cyclones. Equipment is battery operated.
We came across this problem in Canada... how do you sample a large, hard outcrop? Demolition diamond saw channel sampling works but we went smaller and faster with a battery operated angle grinder and a cleverly adapted vacuum that cyclones even the finest dust. 5mm wide x 10mm deep channel at 1m/minute. >100g of sample per metre. >90% sample recovery. This collected sample can be sieved and slide mounted for near instantaneous LIBS analysis.
And you virtually eliminate rock dust generation as you saw away. You still need a dust mask but are not going to disappear in a cloud of silica.
Photo shows an early prototype sawing a channel through a house brick virtually dust free. The dust and sample run through a purpose-made pair of dust cyclones. Equipment is battery operated.
Why Choose Realtime?
- We will provide you with the best analytical equipment, sampling protocols, pressed pellet standards, support and advice based on decades of exploration experience.
- We think that we know our LIBS and XRF better than most users.
- We went down the rabbit-hole of making our own pressed pellet calibration standards when we could not source pressed reference materials in Australia. Two years of standing behind a press gave us experience and insights as how to make superb pressed pellets.
30 years experience
We have established ourselves as professionals in our field, working across commodities, across the world.
We can provide your exploration team training for the safe use of XRFs and LIBS spectrometers.
Individual approach
Every exploration programme has unique objectives, timeframes and requirements. We are keen to discuss your programme and provide assistance, from first-pass prospect evaluation through to advanced programmes.
Fit-for-purpose equipment and people
- Olympus Vanta handheld XRF spectrometers
- Sciaps Z-903 LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectrometry) analyser
- Sampling equipment
- Pressed pellet standards
- Experienced operators and explorers
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