Rapid, accurate sample analysis improves the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of minerals exploration and mining. Whether in an offline laboratory, in a real-time "down-hole" environment or in an inline production facility, Southern Innovation's SITORO® digital pulse processing technology facilitates:

• improved geological visibility (depth of penetration);
• faster, more accurate analysis and
• smaller, lighter equipment.

The use of radiation detection and measurement technologies for minerals analysis is widespread. SITORO® enhances detector efficiency in these applications, which improves detection speed and accuracy and, importantly, enables the design and manufacture of smaller, lighter tools for analysis in a "down-hole" environment.

Existing minerals exploration and analysis techniques such as neutron-activated gamma logs and x-ray analysis of rock samples use radiation detection and measurement techniques to characterise elemental composition. These techniques have applications throughout the resources sector including in the oil, gas, nickel, lead, zinc, coal and iron-ore sectors.

Minerals exploration and analysis techniques can be broadly segmented into three distinct classes:

1. borehole logging
2. offline minerals analysis
3. inline minerals analysis

Borehole loggingGeological structures and characteristics can be "mapped" down an oil well or exploration borehole using active or passive radiation detection and measurement techniques (nuclear logging). more»Offline minerals analysisThe resources sector, whether in the exploration or production phase, uses offline minerals analysis extensively. Offline analysis, where samples are sent offsite to an analysis laboratory, is used throughout the ... more»Inline minerals analysisInline minerals analysis forms an integral component of many smelting, production or consumption processes. Inline analysis seeks to generate real-time information about the material that is being analysed. Applications for ... more»