Integrated 3G - Geochronology-geochemistry-grain shape:
a new toolkit for mineral sands understanding

A Heavy Mineral Sand Toolbox to mineral sands exploration:
Leveraging state-of-the-art technologies to minimize exploration risks
through understanding of complex grain histories

See the world in a grain of sand! 

Zircon > Baddeleyite > Rutile > Titanite > Monazite > Xenotime > Garnet > Apatite > Cassiterite > Feldspar > Source characterisation > Sediment transport pathways > Depositional constraints >
  • Dating of detrital minerals
  • Protolith characterisation and discrimination using trace element analysis
  • Estimations of mineral formation temperatures (e.g., to decipher the metamorphic grade of source rocks)
  • Accurate silica estimates for zircon source rocks (e.g. as a discriminant in provenance analysis)
  • Source-normalized α-dose of detrital zircon to quantify upgrading of heavy mineral cargo during sedimentary transport and recycling
  • Age distributions of detrital minerals reveal sediment mixing processes of the drainage system
  • Mineral ratios, such as the apatite-tourmaline ratio (ATi), track upgrading processes
  • Dating of ferruginous induration tracks (post-)depositional processes, such as declining water tables
  • Xenotime outgrowths on detrital zircon (and other authigenic minerals) can provide depositional age constraints by forming during diagenesis within a deposit or identify intermediate source rocks if representing an earlier diagenetic phase
  • Dating of detrital minerals provides a maximum depositional age (MDA) constraint that can approach true depositional age, particularly in volcanic regions
Zircon Baddeleyite Rutile Titanite Monazite Xenotime Garnet Apatite Cassiterite Feldspar
  • The integration of campaign-style analysis of detrital minerals with cutting-edge data analysis techniques enables unparalleled understanding of sedimentary systems
  • Campaign-style geochronological and geochemical characterizations facilitate reliable intra- and inter-deposit comparisons, enabling the association of deposits with specific strandlines and the effective deciphering of the underlying sediment routing systems
  • Big data allows robust source quantification of a diverse range of processes, e.g., upgrading history through intermediate basins, sediment mixing, and longshore drift processes
Our Workflow

Costs vary depending on the number of samples and the specific analyses requested. However, indicative costs per sample are approximately $5,000 AUD, which includes the complete workflow from rock or heavy mineral concentrate to results. This includes sample preparation, sample characterisation, analysis, and comprehensive reporting within an interpretative framework. We invite you to engage in a preliminary discussion for a more precise cost estimation tailored to your needs.

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