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Automated mineralogy
Thermo Scientific Maps Min Software was developed based on our experience in delivering leading automated mineralogy techniques. Inspired by the changing landscape challenges and needs in the industry, Maps Min Software brings automated mineralogy into the present. It offers modern computational approaches that aim to make the technique more objective, provide more repeatable results, and help you easily address even the most complicated textures and mineral systems.
Key features
- Modern UI design is easier to learn and train for new users
- Decoupled energy-dispersive spectroscopy and backscattered electron resolutions balance speed without losing spatial context
- Truly automated phase identification offers more objectivity with less data QC
- Open architecture and centralized data management reduce the need to copy data, offer flexible data access, and allow you to connect third-party apps to the data cube
Mineralogical phase analysis
At the heart of Maps Min Software is our approach to mineral phase identification. Nearly a decade of development and more than 13 granted patents have translated to a robust, more automated approach to mineral characterization. The Mixel algorithm provides accurate mineralogy with limited need for QC and post processing. It also has built-in intelligence that goes beyond simple spectral matching and solutions, ultimately taking advantage of some of the limitations inherent in the physics of X-ray generation within the SEM.
For example, the X-ray spectrum generated Mixel algorithm is not limited to a single-phase definition required for a single spectrum collected from a sample. For example, the X-rays generated as the beam approaches a boundary between two or more grains of different minerals is fundamentally mixed, which would cause other automated techniques to fail. The Mixel algorithm in Maps Min Software can process mixed spectra automatically. The spectra can be matched with both the identity of the minerals present as well as the relative proportions of those identified phases.
Plus, the deconvolution allows for accurate identification and quantification of sub-species in solid-solution series, including compositional zonation (e.g. plagioclase, chromite-spinel) and trace or minor element substitutions (such as As in pyrite or Fe in sphalerite).
Mineral phase identification and user analysis control
Along with a more modern approach to mineral phase identification, we’ve also greatly improved the user experience of mineral recipe management. A single mineral recipe can be applied to any acquisition approach or microscope configuration, and it can even be applied across multiple SEM systems.
Maps Min Software comes with a default list of well over 4,000 mineral species. A subset of these entries was built with high-count, high-resolution EDS spectra that also form our standards-based elemental quantification used in the classification routine.
Once in the environment, you can easily customize a phase based on known potential trace elements or elemental exchange vectors — common mineralogical knowledge, not esoteric knowledge from an outdated phase ID technique.
In Particle View mode in the Report Browser, you can review mineralogy or BSE-based imagery and use filters to prepare data for report finalization and data export.
Mineralogical data management and visualization
Maps Min Software aims to provide the most accurate mineralogical quality control out of the box as possible. The dedicated data inspection UI enables data validation, reprocessing, and particle validation to ensure high data quality. With a single click, you can change views between mineralogy maps, BSE imagery, EDS-elemental maps, and special modes for QC to visualize X-ray counts, spectral match statistics, and other properties all geared to validate the mineralogical result.
Once data validation is complete, Maps Min Software offers single-click export of multiple projects and samples for report building and visualization. The data structure is based on an open architecture environment, so you can access the central database to connect to other third-party software or perform custom scripting access for advanced data analysis.
The reporting structure in Maps Min Software was built around a centralized data management package. Once data are validated, they are pushed to the Reporting Server location. All you need to view and manipulate data is a web browser. Multiple users can access the same location, simplifying data management and access.
Mineral processing
Automated mineralogy has been a mainstay in the minerals processing domain for decades. The unique ability to derive compositional and spatial mineralogical insights is a key component in evaluating and optimizing mineral separation approaches.
Getting the mineralogy right the first time is the main objective of Maps Min Software. While mineral processing applications depend on the correct derivation of important compositional and textural measures, all these values depend on correctly identifying the phase. As a result, most automated mineralogy approaches demand a lot of manual manipulation and correction to mineral identification. Maps Min Software’s advanced Mixel algorithm provides more robust mineralogy with less manual interaction necessary to obtain accurate characterization.
Mineralogical composition
All compositional data reported in Maps Min Software is based on the EDS data acquired and quantified using the mineral standards built into the mineral list. This runs counter to older methods that base composition on mineral formulas. Our standards-based quantification technique allows you to easily and reliably track trace and potential penalty elements to their parent mineral. You can also search for trace elements in spectra and re-calculate compositions without having to reprocess the entire dataset. With more accurate elemental deportment and assays, you can be more confident in your results.
Mineral processing reporting and visualization
Mineral processing relies on the combination of textural visualization of the particles and the ability to easily extract key data from the sample materials. Our unique, centralized reporting server allows you to connect to the reporting database from your own PC without having to move data. The browser-based application also means that no software needs to be installed to interact with data.
You can access a set of the following auto-calculated reports for visualization:
- Modal mineralogy
- Elemental assay
- Elemental deportment
- Grain and particle size distribution charts
- Liberation
- Locking and associations
- Particle visualization and filtering
One click combines fractions and replicates
With one click, you can combine fractions, replicates, and more to quickly visualize the rolled-up results of these measurements.
Particle-based filtering
You can also filter data easily using a single filter or a string of filters to drill down to the data necessary for final reporting. The same filters can be applied across all the reports in the project. Once reports are in their final form, a single click exports data tables, charts and images into a set of files for easy incorporation into workflows outside of the software.
Geoscience research
Fundamental research in geology requires an understanding of the spatial and chemical relationships of mineral phases. Interpretating the geological history of samples is routine using optical microscopy in combination with electron microprobe analysis. However, developing a petrologic model of samples is time consuming and often not completed on all samples collected. Automated mineralogy can help you develop a full textural and mineralogical characterization with little time needed for building the statistical data. The technique makes it easy to identify and explore bulk compositional, bulk mineralogical, and key textural relationships in detail then include them in a larger set. Ultimately, this helps to increase confidence in your interpretation and provide a base level understanding of compositional variability.
Petrography analysis
Petrographic analysis is the backbone of most geological investigations. Maps Min Software permits detailed characterization of samples to create a digital library of sample texture and mineralogical content.
Maps Min Software provides:
- Spatial mineralogy maps
- X-ray elemental maps
- High-resolution backscattered electron images
- Quantitative mineral compositions
- Sample bulk compositions
- Mineral grain size and shape information
The easy-to-navigate UI allows you to turn on or off minerals to make locating phases of interest easier.
Geochronology
Sampling strategies for geochronology are often manual and time consuming. In addition, the difficulty in identifying these phases in thin sections often results in missing many of the phases, as these searches are often biased toward phases that are large or clean. However, the impact of where the phase is located texturally as well as the identity of that phase impacts the interpretation of the ages provided by other techniques. Maps Min Software makes finding datable phases easy and preserves the context of the spatial location, mineral associations, and the surrounding mineral compositions. This results in less biased and more easily communicated results.
In addition, Maps Min Software allows you to locate the X-Y locations of these phases to provide stage coordinates for transfer to mass spectrometry systems for easy relocation and direct correlation of mineral age with location within the sample.
Resources
Mining and mineralogy software resources
Learn more about how Maps Min Software can support your work with the resources below.
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.