NOTICE OF MEETING
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Note Change of Venue
DATE:
VENUE: The Gallipoli Club –
Rugby Club unavailable due to World Cup
Check the SMEDG web site
SPEAKER: Patrick Highsmith
TOPIC: “The Use of ICP-MS in Mineral Exploration – From Fringe to Mainstream”
Since approximately 1994, explorers have
been benefiting from the ICP-MS. The ICPMS offers much better sensitivity than
conventional ICP – Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) or atomic absorption
spectroscopy (AAS). Since the mass spectrum is much simpler than the light
spectrum, interferences are also dramatically reduced. It also offers an
improved array of elements that can be determined quantitatively.
Using examples from several types of ore
deposits, this presentation will highlight the value of adding elements to the
geochemical fingerprint of a mineralizing system. Elements such as tellurium,
selenium, and rhenium are often not available by ICP-AES, and the detection
limits for bismuth, thallium, and tungsten are too high by ICP-AES to identify
subtle anomalies. Adding elements to our geochemical toolbox may give us the
ability to use the differing geochemical mobility of the elements and their
zoned abundance to vector towards mineralization.
In the ICP-MS we see the relatively rapid
“mainstreaming” of a technology because it has quickly shown practical benefits.
In recent years ICP-MS has been one of the few growth areas in exploration
geochemistry. It is clear from market demand that this will likely continue.
Patrick Highsmith is chief geochemist for
ALS – Chemex and is based in
Future November 27 – Doug Kirwin –
Title not yet finalised
meetings:
Web
page: Check the SMEDG web page for more
details http://smedg.org.au
_________________________________________________________________
Organising Committee:
Steve
Collins Vicki Diemar Lindsay Gilligan Phil Hellman
Cay Mims Kim Stanton-Cook Chris Torrey
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