Press Release: oreXpress™ with EZ-ID™ real-time mineral identification used for identifying hectorite in lithium mining

Lawrence, MA – February 2, 2017 – The oreXpress field spectrometer for mining with EZ-ID software can provide critical real-time mineral identification for hectorite a mineral found in sedimentary rock that is associated with commercially viable amounts of lithium.

Most lithium occurs in pegmatites and is associated with minerals like spodumene, lepidolite and petalite. In sedimentary rocks the mineral hectorite is a clay end-member of the montmorillonite group. Hectorite contains magnesium and lithium and lacks aluminum.

Using an oreXpress field spectrometer running EZ-ID mineral identification software with two libraries of more than 1500 spectra and 600 minerals, geologists are able to identify hectorite in field samples. While similar to montmorillonite (a smectite clay), hectorite has distinctive absorption features near 1400, 1900, 2300, and 2380 nanometers.

The oreXpress is a field portable spectrometer designed for mining exploration. The oreXpress spectrometer delivers:

  • Rapid data/spectra collection in the field
  • High resolution scanning
  • High signal to noise ratio for improved sensitivity
  • 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 cable connector with easy-disconnect fiber
  • A rugged and reliable mineral contact probe for single click field measurements, use in core logging shacks, and with chip trays

oreXpress with EZ-ID mineral identification software matches your unknown target mineral against a known hectorite spectral library sample.

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.

For more information:
http://www.spectralevolution.com/applications_hectorite.html

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. SpecMIN is a trademark of Spectral International.

Press Contact
Nicolas Venjean
Marketing & Sales
978-687-1833
Nicolas.Venjean@spectralevolution.com
SPECTRAL EVOLUTION
26 Parkridge Road, Suite 104
Haverhill, MA 01835 USA
www.spectralevolution.com