Identify lepidolite and spodumene in lithium exploration with Spectral Evolution’s oreXpress and EZ-ID

Spectral Evolution | July 25, 2016 | 8:41 am
Lepidolite

Lepidolite

Lawrence, MA – July 25, 2016 – Spectral Evolution’s oreXpress™ spectrometer with EZ-ID software can provide critical real-time mineral identification for key pathfinder minerals in lithium exploration including lepidolite and spodumene. The oreXpress is a reliable high resolution/low noise NIR spectrometer that covers the 350-2500 nanometer range and is designed for field use. With our contact probe, a geologist can quickly collect scans from outcrops, trenches, pits, walls, even cores and chips to identify alteration minerals.

The oreXpress field NIR spectrometer running EZ-ID offers two spectral libraries (USGS and SPECMin™) to identify lepidolite and spodumene in pegmatites. The libraries include 1500 spectra for 600 minerals.

Using the two libraries, EZ-ID will match unknown sample scans against scans from the library. The software allows a geologist to focus on key spectral features of interest by selecting different match regions within the full scan and matching to those features. The analysis results can be quickly saved to a spreadsheet file for comparison of different matches. All data is saved as ASCII files for use with additional third party software tools like TSG, GRAMS or 3D mapping and analysis programs.

A sample might be identified as lepidolite with EZ-ID by displaying an iron feature at 580nm, water feature at 1400nm and distinct lepidolite features at 2190nm and 2340nm. A spodumene scan could show absorption features at 550nm, 1400nm, 1980nm and 2320nm.

The identification of pathfinder minerals like lepidolite and spodumene can help a geologist build an accurate mineral map for potential drilling and additional exploration. The oreXpress spectrometer delivers:

  • Rapid data/spectra collection in the field
  • High resolution/high sensitivity for accurate reflectance values
  • Fast start-up and use with no optimization step required between scans
  • Sturdy construction to handle field conditions
  • Reliability with no moving optics and a robust metal clad fiber optic
  • A rugged and reliable mineral contact probe for single-click field measurements, use in core logging shacks, and use with chip trays

EZ-ID features:

  • Fast and accurate identification of an unknown mineral to a known library sample
  • Ease of use – just collect a target scan and see immediate match results in real time on your laptop
  • Simple, consistent user interface
  • Include or exclude spectral regions of interest for optimal results
  • Fast scanning for optimum field work or core shack logging

With our Custom Library Builder software module, EZ-ID allows you to scan known samples and quickly build a custom library for a particular project, mineral, location, and more. You can select pre-defined metadata fields or define your own.

Spodumene

Spodumene

About SPECTRAL EVOLUTION

Established in 2004, SPECTRAL EVOLUTION is a leading manufacturer of laboratory and handheld portable spectrometers, spectroradiometers and spectrophotometers.  SPECTRAL EVOLUTION spectrometers are used worldwide for many mission-critical lab and field applications in mining, remote sensing, vegetative studies, ground truthing, environmental and climate studies, developing satellite calibrations, and more, due to their reliable, robust, rugged design and user-friendly one-touch features.

EZ-ID and oreXpress are trademarks of SPECTRAL EVOLUTION.