original QEMSCAN hardware interface

Ten years later, The PC PCI-bus hardware interface for the first generation of QEMSCAN was built in 1996.

original QEM*SEM hardware interface

This week, we uncovered a real Automated Mineralogy memorabilia. A VAX Q-bus hardware interface for the original digital QEM*SEM serial # 2. It is a hand-made double-sided printed circuit board built in 1985.

QEMSCAN mineral map of kimberlite

Nothing but a beautiful picture on a Monday morning. This is one of my all time favourite QEMSCAN images: a kimberlite from South Africa donated to Intellection Pty. by De Beers in 2005. The kimberlite mineral map is emphasising olivine macrocrysts (in green) spectacularly altered to various generations of serpentine. The kimberlite matrix is made up of clay minerals and carbonates, presented in blue, purple and buff colours.

FEI Solutions for Natural Resources web launch

Today is a special day for Automated Mineralogy! FEI Australia is launching its first internet presence on Automated Mineralogy solutions for Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Applications are divided into Mining, Oil & Gas, Geosciences and Forensics. Each section serves as an introduction to the field of application and features great images from their QEMSCAN and MLA solutions. Make sure to check out the movie as well!

Hidden away but extremely useful is the Glossary of Natural Resources Terms. Among some 50 related terms, it defines Automated Mineralogy as "A generic term describing a range of analytical solutions, areas of commercial enterprise, and a growing field of scientific research and engineering applications involving largely automated and quantitative analysis of minerals, rocks and man-made materials". Here you go!

A good day indeed to start this blog on Automated Mineralogy, highlighting new applications, reviewing journal papers, pointing out conference presentations and showing off some interesting images. Enjoy!