Thermo Fisher Scientific has chosen Indaba 2012, which runs from February 6-9th in Cape Town at the International Convention Centre, as the venue to introduce its new Thermo Scientific Mining Sample Collection and Preparation Tool kits to the market, comprising the Thermo Scientific Direct Rock Sampler Kit and the Thermo Scientific Electric Hammer Mill Kit. United Spectrometer Technologies, a leading distributor of Thermo Scientific portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) instruments, will be at the group’s booth as well. Offering the instruments of choice in elemental analysis solutions for mining and exploration, Thermo Fisher was one of the pioneers in introducing portable XRF technology.

With the proven analytical performance of Thermo Scientific portable XRF analysers, such as the Thermo Scientific Niton XL3t GOLDD+ in the field at all stages of the exploration, mining and refining processes, the limiting factor in achieving better correlation with laboratory results is proper sample preparation, according to Thermo. This limitation is particularly true for the analysis of elements lighter than calcium. For the XRF analysis of geologic materials, the analytical performance is improved by collecting representative aliquots and proper preparation of the sample, which these new tools make possible. “Whether you’re conducting a grass roots exploration or looking to improve your ore processes at an operating mine, the need for more information, with greater accuracy, precision and speed has driven the call for new tools and new solutions,” said Jon Shein, senior director of marketing communications for Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments. Shein continued, “With more than 2,500 Thermo Scientific portable XRF analysers deployed in the global mining markets, we are helping to fulfill those needs. Mining and exploration companies of every size use our analysers daily to help them make informed decisions. Because we recognise that sampling techniques can greatly impact these results, and in our continuous efforts to bring the lab to the field, we are pleased to introduce our new sample collection and preparation tools.”