SERVICES
Analytical Services
Nesch Mintech Laboratory offers in house hrl testing for metallurgical testwork programmes, high volume quick turn-around analytical service for large pilot plant trials, method development research to identify new analytical methods for complex or difficult matrices, and regular analytical services for a wide range of external clients in the mining, environmental, chemical and process industries.
Nesch Mintech Laboratory’s analytical method development team is first class, and has a number of new analytical methods to its credit. Nesch Mintech Laboratory management and staff have a strong commitment to quality as well as customer satisfaction. We strive to provide quality work at industry-leading turn-around times and commercially competitive prices.
Analytical services
Our analytical laboratory offers expert analytical services to our metallurgical programmes, and to all our external clients.
Assay Services for Metallurgical Testwork Programmes
Nesch Mintech Laboratory’s assay laboratory provides superior quality assay services to support the company’s metallurgical testwork programmes. Operation of the assay laboratory internally enables Nesch Mintech Laboratory to offer a quick turnaround of metallurgical programmes.
Nesch Mintech Laboratory’s assay laboratory provides a higher quality of service. Reference materials, duplicate analyses, method validation and other quality assurance/quality control processes are central to the laboratory’s activities.
SAMPLE TYPES
Hrl testing routinely analyses a large array of sample types. These include but not limited to:
- Iron ores
- Copper ores
- Lead ores
- Zinc ores
- Nickel ores
- Precious metal ores
- Phosphate rock
- Metallurgical products
- Waters for industrial and steam-raising purposes
- Sewage
- Trade wastes
- Saline waters
- Ground waters
- Process waters and filtrates from mineral processing plants
- Solid wastes
- Leachate procedures
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
The assay laboratory offers a number of environmental analyses, designed to support operations in their environmental monitoring programmes. Environmental sample analysis normally includes
- Multi element Composition
- Paste PH
- Electrical Conductivity
- Total Sulphur
- Total SO42-
- Total CO32-
- ANC
- NaGpH
- NAG
INSTRUMENTS AND CAPABILITIES
Instrument and capabilities
Nesch Mintech’s analytical laboratory offers in depth analytical services to our metallurgical programmes, and to all our valued external clients.
Capabilities
SOLID SAMPLES
- Sample drying and preparation
- Sulphur Speciation
- Copper Speciation
- Carbon Speciation
- Sequential Copper Diagnostic test
- Sequential Gold Diagnostic test
- Gold assay by digest/DIBK/AAS
- Gold by Fire Assay (through network partner)
- Gold analysis of carbon
- Leach WELL diagnostic cyanide leach
- ICP-OES elemental analysis
- Mercury Analysis
- Phosphorous in fertiliser samples
- LOI
- % Moisture
- Laser sizing
- Specific gravity
SOLUTION SAMPLES (ACID, BASE, CYANIDE)
MOST CLASSICAL WET CHEMISTRY TITRATION METHODS INCLUDING:
- Chloride (Cl–)
- Fe2+ & Fe3+
- Free acid (H+)
- Thiosulphate (S2O32– )
- Copper (Cu)
- Carbonate (CO32-)
- Hydroxide (OH–)
- Cyanide (CN–)
SOLUTION SAMPLES (ACID, BASE, CYANIDE)
- ICP-OES elemental analysis (up to 34 elements)
- AAS
- Arsenic speciation (Astot, As(III), As(V)) – HPLC Method
- Sulphur Speciation
- Mercury
- Bacterial Microscope Count
- Cyanide speciation
- Fluoride/Chloride – ISE & HPLC method
- Hydroxide
- TSS, TDS, Turbidity
- pH, Eh/ORP
- Specific gravity
- Water hardness
- Total Alkalinity
Instruments
- Agilent 730-OES ICP
- Agilent 720-OES ICP
- Agilent 55AA AAS
- LECO SC632 C/S Analyser
- LECO SC832 C/S Analyser
- ThermoFisher/Dionex ICS-5000 HPLC
- Anton Parr DMA-4500M Density Meter
- Mastersizer 2000MU Laser Sizer
- Bohlin Viscometer
- Brookfield Viscometer
- ICP-OES elemental analysis (up to 42 elements)
- Arsenic and Sulphur speciation (Astot, As (III), As(V)) – IC Method
SERVICES TO CLIENTS
Nesch Mintech’s analytical laboratory offers the following services to its customers;
- Analysis of environmental samples
- Analysis of soils & water samples
- Assay services for mine sites and other mineral operations
- Method development services
- Site audits for analytical laboratories
- Short term chemists and technical staff for operations
- Sales of certified reference materials (CRM’s) and standard solutions
METHOD DEVELOPMENT
The analytical laboratory at Nesch Mintech has a team of experienced professional chemists, all with postgraduate qualifications, who work with the laboratory manager in method development. Historically method development, for both internal and external clients, has been at the centre of the laboratory’s work. Nesch Mintech’s laboratory has the following equipment ICP-OES, HPLC, LECO Carbon-Sulphur analyser, Laser Sizer, XRF (bench-scale), classic wet chemistry equipment and a suite of sample preparation instruments.
The method development chemists are available for consulting on site, and offer with method validation, instrument performance monitoring, skills training or any other aspects of management and performance of an on-site assay laboratory.
ANALYTICAL SITE SERVICES
The firm offers analytical staff for technical roles for mining operations. The roles can be from technician to senior chemist roles
ASSAY QUALITY CONTROL
Nesch Mintech laboratory is devoted to applying the highest level of quality assurance and quality control to all our analytical work. The laboratory boasts excellent technical staff working within a strong framework of quality policies and procedures accredited by SADCAS on ISO 17025:2017. The result for our clients is consistently accurate and timely analytical services they can depend on.
Training
All personnel in the laboratory are required to participate in comprehensive training programs with a strong focus on safety, quality and process controls. The training programs are delivered frequently by qualified personnel and regularly reviewed by management for adequacy and improvement.
QUALITY CONTROL (QC)
Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) and/or in-house controls, blanks and replicates are analysed with each batch of samples to ensure only the highest quality of results are obtained. The reference materials are carefully chosen for each job to best match the matrix and target analyte of the sample.
Internal Audit Program
The laboratory has an ongoing effort to improve the quality system and laboratory operations, all processes performed at the laboratory are subject to stern auditing programs conducted by approved professionals, certified and Accredited by SADCAS (ISO 17025:2017).
Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)
Nesch Mintech operates a sophisticated Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to ensure efficient and accurate sample tracking, scheduling, quality control and electronic reporting for our customers.
Inter-laboratory Testing & Round Robins
Nesch Mintech also participates in inter laboratory analysis and round robins to ensure quality assaying.