Petrographic Analysis

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Petrographic Reports

We provide many different types of petrographic reports these include Standard petrographic reports for engineering Purposes and Exploration and petrogenises:

Standard Petrographic Report on a Single Rock Type

Samples can be submitted as products (Spalls, ballast, aggregate, ect.) or as a source rock. This report provides identification, description of textures and structures, approx. percentage of minerals present (based on a 100 point count), comment on secondary or deleterious minerals, and potential for alkali-aggregate reactivity and suitability for proposed engineering use. (e.g. to take account of ASTM C 295 Standard Guide for Petrographic Assessment of Aggregates for Concrete and AS1141 Standard Guide for the Method for sampling and testing aggregates).

Secondary Mineral Content

Secondary mineral analysis to AS1141.26 – analysis of 600 point count on three thin sections for a total 1800 points to determine secondary mineral content.

Standard Petrographic Report on a Sand

The report provides a description of the grain shapes, surface coatings and mineralogical composition, (based on a brief point count),and comments on soundness, durability, potential for deleterious AAR and suitability for proposed uses (to take account of ASTM C 295 Standard Guide for Petrographic Assessment of Aggregates for Concrete and AS1141 Standard Guide for the Method for sampling and testing aggregates). Lists free silica content or total quartz content as defined in Queensland Main Roads Q188

Asbestos Analysis

Petrographic screening of samples for the presence of asbestos to AS4964.

Brief Exploration Petrographic Report

Samples can be submitted as hand specimen, rock samples, drill chips or drill cores. This report provides identification, formal description of textures, structures and mineralogy, percentage modal estimate and significance (both economical and geological) of the sample in the suite and in relation to requested aspects.

Detailed Exploration Petrographic report

Samples can be submitted as hand specimen, rock samples, drill chips or drill cores. This report provides identification, formal description of textures, structures and mineralogy, percentage modal and interpretation of the petrogenisis including origin, alteration and metamorphic history and significance (both economical and geological) of the sample in the suite and in relation to requested aspects.

Frictional Ignition testing

Sample can be submitted as a hand specimen from mine face or as drill core. This report is based on the frictional ignition testing of a sample using Ward’s classification diagram. This involves petrographic identification and categorisation of minerals into grouping largely based on hardness of minerals plotted onto a ternary diagram.

Shape Analysis (Roundness and Sphericity)

Microscopic analysis of Sand, Aggregate or Crusher Dust to determination of roundness and sphericity to accord with the recommended practices of Section 5 of the American Petroleum Institute – API19C.

Heavy mineral sands – Microscopic identification and grain counting of heavy mineral concentrates.

  • A Case Study of Alkali-Silica Reaction in Concrete (involving very reactive siliceous glass) using Petrographic Techniques. Publication date Oct 13, 2017. Publication description – The Concrete Conference 2017 New Zealand.
  • Petrographic Characterisation of Alkali-Silica Reaction in Concrete. Publication date Oct 10, 2017. Publication description – 28th Biennial National Conference of the Concrete Institute of Australia.

  • A Case Study of Fire Damage in Concrete using Petrographic Techniques. Publication date Sept 2021. Publication description – 30th Biennial National Conference of the Concrete Institute of Australia.
  • ASTM C295
  • AS1141.26
  • AS1141.65
  • AS4964
  • AS1726
  • Q188
  • ASTM C1721
  • RMS T226
  • ASTM D4992