1 00:00:04,371 --> 00:00:06,173 Portable XRF is used 2 00:00:06,173 --> 00:00:07,775 in an open cut mine 3 00:00:07,775 --> 00:00:09,610 to test blast hole cuttings, 4 00:00:09,610 --> 00:00:11,211 in stockpiles, 5 00:00:11,211 --> 00:00:13,615 and also in an underground environment 6 00:00:13,615 --> 00:00:15,616 to test faces. 7 00:00:15,616 --> 00:00:17,051 In an underground environment 8 00:00:17,051 --> 00:00:18,986 we encounter the same issues 9 00:00:18,986 --> 00:00:20,355 associated with drill core, 10 00:00:20,355 --> 00:00:23,190 the non-homogenous nature of material. 11 00:00:23,190 --> 00:00:24,658 So it is one of the most 12 00:00:24,658 --> 00:00:27,228 difficult applications of the technology. 13 00:00:27,228 --> 00:00:29,263 Blast hole cuttings is one of the 14 00:00:29,263 --> 00:00:32,100 best applications for portable XRF. 15 00:00:32,100 --> 00:00:34,101 The blast holes are already 16 00:00:34,101 --> 00:00:35,470 partially homogenized. 17 00:00:35,470 --> 00:00:38,506 We can get fantastic results on those 18 00:00:38,506 --> 00:00:42,810 and save a lot of time and throughput 19 00:00:42,810 --> 00:00:44,111 for the laboratory 20 00:00:44,111 --> 00:00:45,646 so we are supporting the mine site labs 21 00:00:45,646 --> 00:00:46,981 in those cases. 22 00:00:46,981 --> 00:00:48,516 Within a mine 23 00:00:48,516 --> 00:00:51,151 they generally have a GPS base station 24 00:00:51,151 --> 00:00:52,820 to run trucks and diggers 25 00:00:52,820 --> 00:00:54,655 and again to do pit design. 26 00:00:54,655 --> 00:00:56,723 The customers will be able to trig 27 00:00:56,723 --> 00:00:57,991 their blast points 28 00:00:57,991 --> 00:01:01,061 because blast holes are more closely spaced. 29 00:01:01,061 --> 00:01:03,030 Within many ROM pads 30 00:01:03,030 --> 00:01:05,433 hey store ore to run through the mills. 31 00:01:05,433 --> 00:01:07,568 These ores are stored in a 32 00:01:07,568 --> 00:01:10,138 high grade, mid grade, low grade. 33 00:01:10,138 --> 00:01:11,505 By having a geologist 34 00:01:11,505 --> 00:01:12,806 or a mining engineer 35 00:01:12,806 --> 00:01:15,008 with a field portable XRF on the ROM pad 36 00:01:15,008 --> 00:01:16,911 they can ensure that the feed 37 00:01:16,911 --> 00:01:19,213 is correct going into their processing. 38 00:01:19,213 --> 00:01:20,581 More and more customers 39 00:01:20,581 --> 00:01:25,353 are asking us recently about sulphur analysis 40 00:01:25,353 --> 00:01:27,721 in waste rock stockpiles 41 00:01:27,721 --> 00:01:30,558 as an indicator of acid mine drainage. 42 00:01:30,558 --> 00:01:32,393 Acid mine drainage occurs when 43 00:01:32,393 --> 00:01:34,328 sulfides are brought to the surface, 44 00:01:34,328 --> 00:01:38,365 they oxidize and sulphuric acid forms 45 00:01:38,365 --> 00:01:40,735 and runs off in waste water 46 00:01:40,735 --> 00:01:42,603 or surface water across a site. 47 00:01:42,603 --> 00:01:44,405 Most mines haves to manage 48 00:01:44,405 --> 00:01:46,606 their acid mine drainage 49 00:01:46,606 --> 00:01:49,076 so as not to affect surrounding areas. 50 00:01:49,076 --> 00:01:50,478 There’s hazardous materials, 51 00:01:50,478 --> 00:01:53,313 arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, 52 00:01:53,313 --> 00:01:55,350 some other very nasty materials 53 00:01:55,350 --> 00:01:57,185 held within the waste rock 54 00:01:57,185 --> 00:01:59,386 and even sometimes within the ore. 55 00:01:59,386 --> 00:02:00,688 Companies need to ensure 56 00:02:00,688 --> 00:02:02,856 that the water table isn’t contaminated 57 00:02:02,856 --> 00:02:06,693 and because water is a very light matrix, 58 00:02:06,693 --> 00:02:08,763 the field portable XRF is very capable 59 00:02:08,763 --> 00:02:11,165 of seeing these heavy elements within water. 60 00:02:11,165 --> 00:02:13,535 One of my customers said to me a few years ago 61 00:02:13,535 --> 00:02:15,570 if you have a base metals project 62 00:02:15,570 --> 00:02:17,671 and are not using a portable XRF, 63 00:02:17,671 --> 00:02:19,373 that you’re not doing the right thing 64 00:02:19,373 --> 00:02:20,675 by your shareholders.