Agilent Technologies solutions for Geochemistry, Mining and Metals

Importance of the Topic

Reliable elemental analysis is vital throughout the mineral exploration and production lifecycle. High accuracy and precision support ore grade determination, environmental assessment, and compliance with regulatory standards. By reducing analysis time and operating costs while maintaining safety, modern techniques enable faster decision-making on site and improve overall mine productivity.

Objectives and Overview of the Article

This whitepaper presents Agilent Technologies’ comprehensive portfolio of atomic spectroscopy solutions tailored for geochemistry, mining, and metals. It aims to:

• Highlight the key capabilities of AA, MP-AES, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, micro GC, and handheld FTIR.
• Demonstrate how these instruments address the challenges of trace and major element analysis in rugged field environments.
• Showcase cost savings and operational benefits achieved by running certain methods on ambient air or in portable formats.

Methodology and Instrumentation Used

Agilent’s approach combines multiple atomic spectroscopy techniques to cover a broad concentration range and diverse sample matrices:

• Atomic Absorption (AA): Cost-effective, robust systems for base metals, steel alloys, and high-purity gold.
• Microwave Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (MP-AES): Air-plasma technology that eliminates flammable gas supplies and enables unattended multi-element runs.
• ICP-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES): High throughput (<30 s/sample) with vertical torch design and tolerance to dissolved solids up to 30%.
• ICP-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS): Ultra-trace quantification with high matrix tolerance (up to 25% dissolved solids) and advanced interference removal via reaction/collision cell or triple-quadrupole mode.
• Micro Gas Chromatography (micro GC): Rapid on-site gas analysis for oxygen, methane, hydrogen and other gases critical to mine safety.
• Handheld FTIR: Portable molecular analysis of rock and mineral surfaces with minimal sample preparation.

Key Results and Discussion

Field and laboratory evaluations confirm that these instruments deliver:

• Low detection limits spanning ppq to percentage levels across various matrices.
• Consistent accuracy and precision in rugged conditions, reducing the need for sample transport and gas logistics.
• High sample throughput, enabling tens to hundreds of analyses per day.
• Enhanced safety by using air-based plasma sources and avoiding flammable gases.

Benefits and Practical Applications of the Method

Implementing this integrated spectroscopy suite offers:

• Cost savings from reduced gas consumption and minimized sample shipping.
• Operational flexibility to deploy instruments on-site, in remote camps, or in mobile labs.
• Improved turnaround times that accelerate exploration decisions and process control.
• Data reliability that supports QA/QC procedures in compliance with industry regulations.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Emerging directions include further miniaturization of field-portable platforms, expanded use of automation and AI-driven data interpretation, and enhanced multi-modality coupling (e.g., hyphenated techniques) for comprehensive mineral characterization. Integration with cloud-based monitoring and remote diagnostics will enable real-time decision support in digital mining operations.

Conclusion

Agilent’s multi-technique elemental analysis solutions address critical needs in geochemistry and mining by combining rugged design, high throughput, and cost efficiency. Running plasma methods on air and leveraging portable analysers empowers laboratories and field teams to achieve rock-solid minerals analysis anywhere, improving safety, speed, and data confidence.