Analytical X-ray diffractometer and spectrometer manufacturer and supplier Panalytical showcased its newly launched portable, handheld TerraSpec Halo mineral identifier at the 2014 Investing in African Mining Indaba, which took place in Cape Town last month.

“The TerraSpec Halo, which is manufactured by Panalytical’s near-infrared instrument unit Panalytical Boulder, and was officially launched in December, provides increased accuracy and easy use for field geologists,” Panalytical mining market manager and senior geologist Chris Sherry told Mining Weekly on the sidelines of the conference.

“The system weighs only about 2 kg and is the lightest and fastest all-in-one near-infrared (NIR) instrument available for exploration geology,” he enthused.

Sherry stated that, with just a single pull of the trigger, the instrument delivered mineralogy results in less than 20 seconds, which significantly accelerated site exploration efforts and, ultimately, saved mine operations valuable time and money.

“Until the introduction of the TerraSpec Halo, NIR mineral analysis instruments required an experienced geologist and heavier equipment, with cabling and multiple devices,” he pointed out, adding that the TerraSpec Halo mineral identifier brought much-needed efficiency to the field by removing weight and complexity to give real-time mineral information.

Sherry told Mining Weekly that the identifier included easy-to-use features such as simple mineral data capturing and handling, an on-board global positioning system, voice-recording capability, multiple languages for the on-board software and user manual, an extensive spectra library and immediate multimineral results and scalars.

He further pointed out that the instrument included Panalytical’s proprietary mineral prediction software program, which retrieved data from a constantly expanding, multicontinent mineral library, sourced from the world’s top public and private databases.

“Geologists can also work with Panalytical technicians to design their own libraries and further customise the TerraSpec Halo to meet their individual requirements,” added Sherry.

He noted that the instrument’s software featured improved spectra management with simple spectra naming protocols, easy-to-use data organisation, validation and tagging, as well as simple data export tools to port data to third-party software programs such as the Spectral Geologist and Leapfrog. 

“In addition to providing field geologists with real-time information and quicker delineation of alteration halos or clay species-type delineation, the device can be used in the core shack or on the rig for faster core and drill-chip analysis, as well as in production environments for field confirmation and ore-grade control,” concluded Sherry.