Analysis & Metallurgical Testing
Which Service is Right for Your Needs?
In mineral processing, success depends on what you know before the process begins. We help you gain that knowledge right from the start. Each service provides a different type of information. Here, we help you choose the right service to support the decisions you’ll make.
I want the cheapest way to see directly if there is any gold visible in the stone.
I want to know the element content in this rock or soil, including gold, in a cost-effective and fast way.
I want to know the metal content in this stone in detail, including the very small content.
👉 ICP-MS
Does this stone show any signs of potential metals that need to be followed up?
👉 ICP-MS
Given the condition of the stone, what process could make the gold come out?
How finely does this stone need to be ground to remove the gold?
👉 SEM-MLA
What minerals is the gold bound to in this stone?
How much gold is actually in this stone?
Is there enough gold in this stone to process?
Are there any other elements in this stone besides gold that are worth processing?
Why Is Analysis Important?
Rocks, ores, waste, or materials often look the same on the outside. However, their internal composition and behavior can vary greatly. Many processing projects fail not because the material is poor,
but because important information was not known from the outset.
Analysis is conducted to:
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Determine what the material contains
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Understand how the material will react during processing
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Avoid incorrect assumptions
In mineral processing, knowledge is the key to success. Without knowledge, decisions are based solely on guesswork—and guesswork often leads to failure.
Many processing failures occur because the initial analysis is skipped.
Read real-world examples from processing sites in Indonesia on our blog.
👉 Read the full article
Four Key Questions in Every Project
Every material processing project essentially always comes down to the following four questions:
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Is there anything of value in this material?
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How much value is contained in it?
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How is the metal located in the material?
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Does the processing method really work in real practice?
Each question requires a different type of analysis.
1. Is There Anything of Value in This Material?
(Initial Examination): This step is used when the material is new or unfamiliar. The goal is simple: Stop at the beginning Or proceed to the next stage with more confidence
ICP-OES – Recommended Initial Steps
Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectroscopy
This is the most recommended initial method.
What ICP-OES does:
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Detecting metal at ore level
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Suitable for base metals, precious metals, PGMs and REEs
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Provide relevant information for real-world processing decisions
👉 ICP-OES – Metal Evaluation for Economic Decisions
2. How much value is contained in it?
(Accurate Figures): Use this stage when the potential is proven and exact numbers are really needed.
To analyze gold and PGMs in ore, the process always begins with Fire Assay. Fire Assay is used to collect and concentrate precious metals from rocks, so that the measurement results are representative.
After Fire Assay, the measurement method is selected according to the purpose of the analysis.
If your goal is to determine the actual gold or PGM content and whether the material is suitable for processing, ICP-OES is used. This method is used for practical, quantitative assessment, and its results are suitable for economic and operational decisions.
Conversely, if your goal is to search for very small traces of gold or PGMs, for example, to identify geological indications or anomalies, ICP-MS is used. This method is intended more for exploration and research, not for determining processing feasibility.
In short, ICP-OES used to answer “how much and is it worth processing”, whereas ICP-MS used to answer “are there any traces, anomalies or indication".
ICP - OES – Quantification for Economic Decisions
Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectroscopy
Use ICP-OES if the question is:
Is this material suitable for processing?
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Designed for economic and operational decisions
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If an element is not detected, its level is too low to be considered.
👉 ICP-OES – Material Economic Evaluation
3. How Are Metals Contained in Materials?
(Before Determining theProcessing Method): Knowing the amount of metal alone is not enough. Before processing, it is necessary to understand:
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Whether the metal is free or locked within other minerals.
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How large are the metal particles?
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How finely must the material be ground?
This analysis does not design a plant, but provides important information to ensure the process does not fail.
SEM-EDS & SEM-MLA
Information obtained: Location of the metal within the material
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Degree of metal entrapment
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Particle and grain size
👉 SEM-EDS → Assess risks and method suitability. Identify minerals.
👉 SEM-MLA → Determine the optimal grinding size for efficiency.
SEM-EDS – To Understand Risk From the Beginning
Scanning Electron Microscope – Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy
Choose SEM-EDS if you want to know:
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Are there any minerals that can interfere with the process?
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Are metals locked in certain minerals?
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Is a particular process method at risk of failure?
SEM-EDS helps answer:
“Does this stone have the potential to cause problems during processing? ”
When SEM-EDS is used
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Before choosing a process method
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When you want to avoid choosing the wrong chemical or method
SEM-EDS is not for
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Calculating the level
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Determining the grinding size
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Calculating the results (recovery)
4. Does the Processing Really Work?
(Metallurgical Testing): Analysis provides an overview. Metallurgical Testing proves the reality. At this stage, the material is actually tested through real processing processes.
PMS: Simple Metallurgical Testing
Suitable for
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Small project
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Initial stage of decision making
Objective
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Comparing and testing processing methods
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Proving that the processing method can work in practice
👉 Simple Metallurgical Testing