The Government Information Center

Petrology Laboratory

Overview

The petrology of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau provides a leading service to the country. For both internal geoscientist who engage our annual programmers of the Geology Division of the GSMB and external clients such as academics, government and private sectors, communities and individuals in the fields of petrology, mineralogy and sedimentology.

The laboratory offers services in preparation of rock, mineral and polished thin sections, and slabs by using sawing machines, grinding machines, thin sectioning Logitech machines, and different polishing machines. Mineral separation unit uses the Wilfley table, heavy and light minerals are separated using the sink- float method and Frantz magnetic separator, and hand picking of minerals is carried out under the stereomicroscope. It delivers mineral concentrates, separated minerals, and grain-size data to the clients.

Microscopic analysis provides information related to various lithological characteristics of the rock types including their texture, mineralogical composition, and alternation etc. by using transmitted light microscopy. Reflected light microscopy is used to obtain detailed information about the presence of opaque minerals, their texture, grain size, and association with other metallic and gangue minerals in the host rock.Preparation of technical reports on the petrographic aspects and mineralogical make-up including photomicrographs of the samples are also carried out for the clients.

Fees paying to obtain this service:-

Job	Proposed Charges Rs.	Remarks
1.Thin Section Preparation	3000.00	Hard rock (minimum of 600 mm² area guaranteed, if sufficient material supplied)
2.Thin Section Preparation	3500.00	Soft or friable rock, needs impregnation
3.Petrographic description of thin section	1500.00
4.Seive analysis of about 100gm (Particle size down to 63 m)	1500.00 100.00	First sieve Each additional sieve
5.Separation of particles smaller than 63m (Laser particle Analyzer )	3000.00	Add Rs.250,if the material to be ground.
6.Heavy liquid separation of mineral sand (50gm) using Bromoform	3500.00
7.Magnatic separation using Isodynamic Separator	200.00 1000.00	Per run Complete separation
8.Separetion of quartz from feldspar (25gm)	500.00	Using sodium polytungstate
9.Identification of minerals of minerals mixture	1000.00 1500.00	1-3 minerals 3-6 minerals
10. Full mineralogical analysis including item #6,7 and 9	5000.00
11.Determination of hardness	200.00	Moh’s Scale
12.Detamination of Specific gravity	300.00
13. Determination of Refractive Index	800.00	Immersion method/Refractometer Using Rayner refractometer
14.Preparation of a grain mount	1500.00
15.Mineral Report-unspecified	1500.00
16.Cutting of rock slab 10x10x3 cm (max .dimensions)	1000.00	100%extra charge for quartz or harder material.
17. Preparation of polished thin sections for microprobe analysis	4000.00	(polished with 1-3m alumina or diamond suspension-without carbon coating)
18.Preparation of polished thin sections for fluid inclusion studies (2x2 cm)	4500.00
19.Rock Pulverizing using agate vessel(70 gm)	1500.00	Very –low contamination except W’and Co
20.Thickness &flatness measurement of thin slabs(1cm>)	500.00	Accuracy + 5 m