Mineralogical Analysis Services

Mineralogical Services Home | X-ray Powder Diffraction and Associated Techniques | Products and Services | Contact Information

Welcome to the CSIRO Land and Water, Mineralogical Services Home Page. Please feel free to browse around and see what we have to offer. Within these pages you will find a number of products and services that are available to clients both within and external to the Division. 

Based on our research experience and expertise in X-ray analysis methods, we offer the Mineralogical Services to clients in the agricultural, geological, mining and processing industries, and other research organisations. 

The special expertise of the Mineralogical Services group relates to the identification and characterisation of minerals in soils and weathered rocks in Australian landscapes, novel methods of mineral synthesis, and quantitative techniques of mineralogical analysis using X-ray diffraction. Of particular note is the development of methods for detailed characterisation of clay minerals, and accurate methods for quantitative XRD analysis (Rietveld Analysis). 

Mineralogical Services devotes a significant proportion of its resources towards developing and introducing new techniques in order to improve the reliability, accuracy and speed of analysis. This is accomplished by maintaining a close interaction with emerging technologies and developing new technical skills. High levels of expertise in computer programming skills have enabled the development of computer-based instrument control and data manipulation packages for XRD (Xplot, PC-1710 and PC-1800). 

Mineralogical Services are based on X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) using techniques largely devised in this laboratory. Analyses can be made of soils, minerals, rocks, ores, industrial products and chemicals. However, access is available to a wide range of additional techniques, including, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential thermal analysis (DTA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and various wet chemical methods. 

• X-ray Powder Diffraction and Associated Techniques
• Products and Services
• Contact Information