Tescan minerals analyser purchased for WA research centre

X-ray tube supplier AXT has been competitively selected to provide a Tescan Integrated Minerals Analyser (TIMA) to the John de Laeter Centre (JDLC) at Curtin University in Western Australia. The centre recently placed an order for an automated minerals analyser based on scanning electron microscope (SEM) technology.

The order marks the second TIMA that will be installed in Western Australia this year and the second Tescan electron microscope to be purchased for the JDLC. In January, AXT commissioned a Tescan MIRA Schottky Field Emission Gun (FEG-SEM) instrument for large-area energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) mapping of minerals.

While the TIMA is available based on two platforms, Curtin University has selected the more powerful (FEG-SEM) platform based on the MIRA design. The system features the larger GM fully analytical chamber which enables the loading of up to 15 x 30 mm diameter samples and as many as 20 detectors and accessories.

Cathodoluminescence image of an apatite and sodalite mineral taken with a Tescan compact Rainbow CL detector.

The analyser seamlessly integrates EDS detectors and software to rapidly and automatically analyse samples for mineralogy using three measurement modes: modal analysis, liberation analysis and bright phase search. It will also incorporate Tescan’s compact Rainbow cathodoluminescence (CL) detector, which is suited to the identification of different mineral phases and allows simultaneous CL and backscatter (BSE) imaging, a capability not available using conventional CL detectors.

“We look forward to working with AXT and Tescan to build a digital mineralogy hub in Western Australia for minerals, energy, materials and environmental research,” said JDLC Director Professor Brent McInnes. “The TIMA will play a critical role in managing the microanalytical workflow of several JDLC facilities including over $20 million of ion, laser, electron and atom microprobe instrumentation.”

Professor McInnes revealed that the TIMA acquisition was jointly funded by a research consortium including Curtin University, The University of Western Australia, Murdoch University, the Geological Survey of Western Australia, the Australian Research Council and the WA Office of Science. Following installation, scheduled for November, AXT and Tescan will continue to provide ongoing hardware and software support and maintenance for their systems.