ES ANALYTICAL is the global leader in rapid test technologies for determination of geochemical risk (acid, metals, salinity) for the mining industry. Building on extensive world-wide mine site experience and over 20 years of research and development, we offer a series of standard test suites designed specifically to address key questions for mine approvals and risk management.
Download the ES ANALYTICAL brochure: PDF
ES ANALYTICAL specialises in the latest rapid test technologies for determination of AMD/ARD* risk under simulated site conditions. Knowing with certainty the AMD risk of mine materials has never been more important. Stricter regulations and community scrutiny mean that missteps in the management of environmental impacts can have severe consequences for mine operations. Material assessments for AMD risk can be expensive and some of the key kinetic tests are expensive and can take years to complete. Not only that, the results are often unclear and give little management guidance. At ES ANALYTICAL, we spend a lot of time thinking of ways to do this better, and developing tests with real management significance. WHAT’S NEW Based on many years of research and development, we can now provide a kinetic test based on proprietary OxCon oxygen consumption cell technology that gives comprehensive, accurate, management-ready results in as little as 4 weeks at a fraction of the cost of other methods.
Oxygen consumption cell tests are quickly becoming the new standard for kinetic geochemical testwork. Not all oxygen consumption tests are the same, however. Only ES ANALYTICAL’s OxCon test provides the accuracy, reliability and complete reporting that permit use of the results in a range of management activities. OxCon technology is also used in our oxygen penetration tests, which directly test the depth of oxidation, oxygen flux and the effectiveness of cover materials at full scale, under site-simulating conditions. No more modelling, no more uncertainty. That’s how it should be. With results in weeks, not years, and clear metrics that you can use directly to make management decisions, it has never been easier, cheaper or quicker to de-risk and tick off that management or approvals checklist. REAL-WORLD CONDITIONS To be relevant, the conditions of the test must reflect site conditions. ES ANALYTICAL runs all of its OxCon tests under conditions that match each site’s environmental profile. Temperature, humidity, moisture, compaction and solar radiation are key parameters that can profoundly affect the results of kinetic geochemical tests. Need to know how the material behaviour would change by increasing moisture or adding a cover? Test it. Our rapid kinetic tests allow multiple parameters to be varied and tested within just a few weeks. SIMPLIFYING TEST SELECTION We know that selecting the most appropriate suite of tests for your analysis program is critical but often challenging. That's why we developed standard test suites that cover they key geochemical parameters at different levels of detail, and bundled the analyses together to give you the absolute best price. MAKE TESTING ROUTINE ES ANALYTICAL’s test suites allow mine managers to de-risk permitting and closure planning and provide real certainty around downstream risks and how they should be managed. Each test has the potential to save millions of dollars by optimising material handling and management, so make it routine: » Mine approvals, extensions and regulatory compliance » Engineering design validation » Closure and rehabilitation » Design and costing » Water treatment costing and equipment requirements » Stockpile metal loss / metallurgy OUR MOST POPULAR TESTS EXPLAINED
OxCon Rapid Oxygen Consumption Cell Tests
Our most popular suite, this test determines the intrinsic rate of oxidation for sulphidic materials by direct measurement of oxygen consumption by the material over time. In combination with the detailed mineralogy and geochemistry of the sample, this ‘snapshot’ taken over 2–6 weeks tells us how much acidity will be generated over the reactive lifetime of the material, and how long the acid neutralisation capacity of the sample will be able to neutralise the generated acidity.
This information is pulled together in a graphical output that puts key management metrics at your fingertips, clearly showing the acid-free ‘lag’ period before the onset of acid conditions for acid-forming samples, the timing and magnitude of peak acidity, and the longevity of acid generation (see below).
The oxidation rate is reported as a reactive sulfide ‘half-life’ (as well as in various conventional units), which allows the result to be applied directly to bulk average materials — a result with direct management utility.
 OxCon Oxygen Penetration Tests
|
STANDARD TEST SUITES 2015/16
|
