Mining
Synchrotron XRD for Mineral Characterisation
Determine the minerals. We provide quantitative mineralogy based on synchrotron X-ray diffraction on short notice, at any scale.
Improve confidence in mineral identification.
With a 2–5× sharper resolution than standard lab instruments, distinguish clays and other layered species and identify trace alteration minerals that influence recovery.
Detect minerals down to 0.1–0.01 wt%.
With 200× better signal-to-noise than standard instrumentation, you can find pathfinder minerals, deleterious phases, or minerals hosting penalty elements that sit below lab detection limits, before they become costly surprises in your plant.
Get mineralogical results as fast as 10–21 days.
For sets of up to 1 000 samples, we can provide measurements on very short notice. Larger sample sets may take 4–6 weeks.
Send samples today for a rapid analysis; we have regularly scheduled beamtimes and massive throughput. This means your mineral data keeps pace with the needs of your site.
Scale mineralogical analysis to your project—not to the limits of the lab.
If you just need to measure 5 samples for a preliminary test or 20 000+ for a full geometallurgical program; the workflow stays the same, the quality stays the same, and turnaround remains reliable.
What does this mean for your operation?
Ore evaluation
Identify the minerals that control grade, recovery, and comminution before selecting a processing route. Quantify the components that matter including clays, sulfides, oxides, carbonates, silicates and more. Understand what you’re mining, not just what the assay says.
De-risk planning
Understand how mineralogy changes across your deposit and define zones that matter for planning and processing. Reduce uncertainty with measured data that reduces the need for assumptions.
Process optimisation
Understand which minerals end up in tailings. Optimize flotation, leaching, or gravity circuits based on actual mineral deportment data. Track process-relevant mineral phases across feed, concentrate, and tailings streams.
Use Cases
Sample number
E.g., up to 500 samples
Application
Map alteration patterns, identify pathfinder minerals, and support deposit evaluation.
Sample number
~500 samples
Application
Identify which minerals host Cu, Au, Li and what portion may be recoverable.
Sample number
5 000–50 000+ samples
Application
Map mineral variability across the deposit and support geometallurgical models.
Sample number
5 000–50 000+ samples
Application
Unlock value from archived cores by re-analyzing stored samples—no new drilling needed.
Sample number
5 000+ samples
Application
Assess reprocessing potential, environmental risk, acid rock drainage, and closure planning.
How it works
Scope
30 min discussion of your goals
Purpose
Discuss how we can help you and plan the next steps.
Scope
50–500 samples
Purpose
Test across lithologies, alteration zones, or process streams.
Scope
5 000–20 000+ samples
Purpose
Geometallurgical block models. Long-term mine planning. Operational mineralogy.
All data are validated via NIST standards, delivered with experimental and data processing documentation, and handled under strict client confidentiality. We routinely work under NDAs, and all project data remains proprietary to you.
800+ industry customers and research groups use Momentum Transfer.
We operate at ESRF and DESY, two of Europe’s brightest synchrotron facilities. Founded by materials experts from BASF and the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, we bring industrial-grade reliability and state-of-the-art expertise to minerals characterisation.
Download our Service Data SheetReady to see what’s in your samples?
Book a free 30-minute consultation. Discuss your project scope, sample types, and turnaround needs directly with our team.