AZtecGeo

Dedicated. Comprehensive. Fast.

AZtecGeo is a geoscience dedicated user profile for particle analysis software AZtecFeature. Its aim is to guide the automated quantification of mineral morphology and composition across large samples.

Optimising automated EDS analysis and building elaborate mineral classification schemes can be significant time-sinks. AZtecGeo empowers geoscientists with the required tools and guidance to perform high-quality, large area, compositional and textural analysis. In addition, a pre-made classification scheme will rapidly translate chemical information into usable mineralogical data for rapid processing.

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BSE

Mineral Map

Mineral Assessment

✔️ Built-in Mineral classification scheme

Offering more than 200 minerals and a comprehensive list of common rock forming minerals: silicates, oxides, sulphides, carbonates

✔️ Acquisition settings tailored for geological materials

Image dwell time and resolution, EDS process time, counting statistics

✔️ Step notes to guide the acquisition of high-quality data

Help functions are adapted for dealing with geological materials and workflows

Automated mineral classification of crushed rock sample using AZtecGeo

Data instantly obtainable from AZtecGeo including modal mineralogy, mineral mapping, mineral classification and composition.

With AZtecGeo, a diverse range of geological materials can be rapidly characterised, reducing the need for preparative mineralogy knowledge to guide the building of classification schemes.

Our holistic classification scheme automatically translates elemental wt.% into useful mineral groups (e.g. olivine) and even subgroups (e.g. fayalite). This removes the need for time consuming, user generated, mineral classification schemes.

Mineral Classification Methodology:

A BSE image is acquired
User made greyscale thresholds are applied to segment the phases within the image
Each phase that satisfies the greyscale threshold(s) is sequentially analysed by EDS
Quantified EDS spectra for each particle are filtered through a series of classes
- If the quantification result satisfies the required elements and the specified range of elemental abundances, that feature will be assigned to a mineral class (e.g. oxide)
- Once a mineral is allocated to a class, it is automatically filtered into a subclass using the same approach (e.g. ilmenite)

Users have the freedom to edit elemental ranges, generate new mineral classifications and add additional morphological classification features (e.g. aspect ratio).

Images detailing mineral analysis and classification using AZtecGeo

Flow diagram detailing particle analysis workflow and mineralogical classification.

Importantly, with the processing of EDS data and generation of accurate quantification results, our particle analysis solution can provide a more robust approach to mineral classification than spectrum matching.

Benefit from World-Class Particle Analysis

AZtecGeo benefits from the flexibility and accuracy of our world leading particle analysis software, AZtecFeature.

✔️ Flexibility

Easily add/edit classifications for new mineral groups or species
Acquire data from phases with specific morphological properties (e.g. area > 20 µm)
Available on a wide range of SEM platforms
Easily perform other modes of analysis on target phases using integrated EBSD, Raman and BEX detectors

✔️ Accuracy

Reconstruct particles broken by field boundaries to ensure full morphological and chemical characterisation
Benefit from leading spectrum processing with Tru-Q and Tru-Q IQ
Specify minimum number of spectrum counts per feature for guaranteed data quality
Automatically compensates for changes to image contrast/brightness in run

✔️ Reporting

Run completion summary with validation reports on SEM beam stability and EDS detector resolution
Particle classification and size distribution
Morphology and composition statistics
Histogram, binary and tertiary displays for elemental abundances and morphological characteristics
Batch export all particles or data from specific classes and subclasses

AZtecGeo Empowers Geoscientists with:

Recommended acquisition settings for fast and reliable data collection on geomaterials
A comprehensive mineral classification scheme based on mineral stoichiometry
The ability to add/adjust mineral classifications with compositional and morphological criteria
A holistic classification scheme with more than 200 rock forming minerals, including:
- silicates
- oxides
- sulphides
- sulphates
- carbonates
- phosphates
Hydrous and carbonaceous mineral classes adjusted to suit normalised EDS data where C and H are not quantified
Accurate spectrum processing and elemental identification with AZtec’s Tru-Q® and Tru-Q IQ algorithms
Step notes specifically designed for geological analysis
Full integration within leading particle analysis software AZtecFeature

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