News

A Tale of Two Spectra: The Difference Between NIR and FTIR
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) are two molecular analysis technologies that are used in a wide range of industries – especially mining. While NIR is a well-known and well-established technology, FTIR is often considered the new

A Guide to Portable XRF Geochemistry in Mining
Geochemistry analysis is an incredibly important part of the mining industry. It is relevant to every stage of a mine’s life cycle and needs to be fast and accurate enough to avoid costly delays. Portable XRF geochemistry analysers are the

On a Whole New Wavelength: What is FTIR and How Does it Work?
On A Whole New Wavelength: What Is FTIR And How Does It Work? Meet the new kid on the spectroscopy block – FTIR. Whether you work with polymers, minerals, environmental science or even historical artefacts, FTIR can be applied to

Fool’s Gold: How Precious Metal Testing Saves You From Being Swindled
Fool’s Gold: How XRF Precious Metal Testing Saves You From Being Swindled Precious metals are, as the name would suggest, very expensive commodities. From jewellery to luxury household items, they are highly sought after and extremely rare. The problem is,

The Phenotyping Phenomenon: How Plant Phenotyping Technology Improves Plant Performance
The Phenotyping Phenomenon: How Plant Phenotyping Technology Improves Plant Performance For much of history, people prayed to their gods to deliver them a good harvest. There’s no need to pray anymore… With the help of plant phenotyping technology, you can

Looking Further Afield: Is Smart Digital Farming the Future of Agriculture?
Looking Further Afield: Is Smart Digital Farming the Future of Agriculture? The days of farmers visually inspecting and manually harvesting their crops in large-scale industries are ending. It is now far more efficient and profitable to use machines to assist

The Chromatic Aberration Effect: How it Affects Hyperspectral Imaging
The Chromatic Aberration Effect: How it Affects Hyperspectral Imaging Hyperspectral imaging technology is an integral part of mining in Australia. Images taken at high resolutions can reveal astonishing amounts of data without needing physical samples. The catch is, the quality

Clear as Mud: 5 Common Methods for Contaminated Soil Testing
Clear as Mud: 5 Common Methods for Contaminated Soil Testing You can often tell how land has been used decades after based on the composition of its soil. Depending on what the land needs to be used for, the absence

The Benefits of Hyperspectral Data Imaging for Mine Mapping
The Benefits of Hyperspectral Data Imaging for Mine Mapping Hyperspectral data imaging is revolutionising mine mapping, and will only continue to improve in the future. The benefits far outweigh the costs, especially when compared to traditional on-foot greenfield exploration. If

Nipping it in the Bud: Non-Destructive Detection & Monitoring of Mould on Cannabis with Hyperspectral Imaging
Nipping It In The Bud: Non-Destructive Detection & Monitoring Of Mould On Cannabis With Hyperspectral Imaging The Australian legal cannabis industry is valued at over USD 50M and is slated to increase by 30% each year until 2030. But like

Why is Mining in Australia so Popular?
Why is Mining in Australia so Popular? Historically, mining has always been one of the backbones of Australia’s economy. But as other founding industries have become less relevant over time, mining continues to thrive. Despite Australia seemingly embracing a technology

What Does Asbestos Look Like? Asbestos Warning Signs
What Does Asbestos Look Like? Asbestos Warning Signs For anyone renovating or demolishing older homes, the fear of materials containing asbestos is a real one. You might be wondering whether it is safe for work to proceed, and whether there

Mesothelioma Caused By Asbestos: A Complete Guide
Mesothelioma Caused By Asbestos: A Complete Guide Asbestos was used as a cheap, multi-purpose material throughout most of the 20th Century. Unfortunately, what people didn’t realise was that the handy mineral lurking in many of their households was actually deadly

Greenfield vs Brownfield Exploration
Greenfield Vs Brownfield Exploration Mining is one of Australia’s most important industries, but have you found yourself wondering how new mine sites are found? There are two broad strategies for locating new prospective mining sites: greenfield vs brownfield exploration. Read

No More Mr Fluffy: How to Identify Loose Fill Asbestos Insulation
No More Mr Fluffy: How to Identify Loose Fill Asbestos Insulation While Mr Fluffy sounds like the name of a lovable pet, or a kid’s teddy bear, the truth isn’t something to be happy about. Read on to find out

Asbestos In Popcorn Ceiling? Fact Or Myth
Asbestos In Popcorn Ceiling? Fact Or Myth ‘Popcorn ceilings’ are a common feature in homes built between the 1950’s and the 1980’s. In the years since, they’ve gained a reputation for containing asbestos. If you work in the construction industry

Hyperspectral Imaging In The Food Industry
Hyperspectral Imaging In The Food Industry While quality control is a major consideration for every production business, it is a particular concern in the food industry. Here, even slight changes in colour and chemical make-up can have a major impact

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS): Everything You Need to Know about the New Player on the Field
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is an elemental analytical technique that can identify carbon in steel. While LIBS is not new to analysis labs, its growing presence in fieldwork is drawing attention. If inaccurate or inefficient carbon identification is hampering your business, LIBS might just be the solution.

The Five Most Common Methods of Carbon Analysis in Steel
The strength and durability of steel is largely determined by its carbon content. Therefore, it is essential that manufacturers can measure carbon accurately and quickly. Here are the five most commonly used methods for carbon analysis in steel.

It’s Time for your Seeds to be More Photo-Genetic: How Advanced Image Processing Assists Seed Germination Testing
By understanding how to prevent seeds from failing to germinate, and by making the germination process more efficient, the seed industry can have higher and more frequent yields. Learn how advanced image processing is improving the effectiveness of seed germination testing.

Not Out of the Woods yet: A Reflection on Last Year’s Timber Shortage and the Importance of Quality Screening
You may remember that for much of last year, Australia was experiencing a serious timber shortage. Wood prices skyrocketed because there wasn’t enough of it – leading some to call for the Federal Government to extend their home-building assistance program. While the crisis has subsided for now, there are some vital lessons to be learnt if you want to have the best chance of remaining profitable if a similar crisis happens again.