Portable Analytical Instrumentation for Mobile Laboratory

Portable analytical instruments and ancillary equipment will analyse elements, minerals and physical properties in range of earth materials including:

• Whole rock (hand specimen sized samples and potentially in-situ)

• Rock powders

• Soil and loose sediments

• Water (surface and groundwater)

• Potentially: liquid oils and plant material

Anticipated use cases in the mobile laboratory facility include:

• Robust quantitative geochemical and mineralogical analysis of collected rock and soil samples for rapid reporting during and immediately after field survey.

• Geochemical and mineralogical screening of collected samples to identify samples of interest to be sent for further laboratory-based analysis.

• Real-time monitoring of geochemical and mineralogical properties of collected samples to aid dynamic design of sample collection program.

• Immediate analysis of acquired water samples for time sensitive water quality parameters prior to sample storage and transport for further analysis.

• Rapid and safe demonstration of analytical techniques to public audience.

Instruments should be fit for purpose for Australian field conditions, adaptable for a range of matrix materials and compliant with relevant safety standards. Innovative capabilities to adapt for future uses and third-party data analysis applications is also required.