Mineral separation laboratory
The Southeast Asia Research Group (SEARG) manages a mineral separation laboratory for heavy/light mineral studies for sedimentary provenance work, as well as to obtain minerals for geochronology and geochemistry.
A jaw crusher is typically used to break down rock samples into smaller aggregate before being processed in a tungsten-carbide or steel swing/ring mill or our Fritsch Pulverisette 13 Premium Line tungsten-carbide disk mill.
The milled ‘sediment’ is then sieved using disposable nylon meshes and a Retsch vibratory sieve shaker, before being deslimed. Ovens and heat lamps are available to dry any slurries before further processing using a Wilfley (‘shaker’) table, heavy density liquids (LST and DIM) and/or Frantz isodynamic magnetic separator.
We use the following techniques for mineral separation.
- Rock crushing (available in our adjoining facility)
- Rock milling/pulverizing
- Sieving
- Heavy density liquids (LST and DIM)
- Magnetic separation
- Transmitted and reflected light microscopy
