Ann: MD's Company Update - December 2021, page-549

Drill Core Logging and Optimizing Sample Selection

	Effective use on freshly drilled or cut diamond core is one of the most difficult applications for XRF due to the veiny and spotty (non-homogenous) nature of geological samples. Nonetheless, methodologies are routinely established to gather XRF data from numerous points per meter of core to assist geologists in selecting samples for lab analysis and to provide supplementary and immediate geochemical data during core logging. This is generally a qualitative/ semi-quantitative use of XRF to identify trends within the geological system. In the three graphs opposite from a Cu exploration project in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, XRF readings were taken every 10 cm and averaged over each meter and compared with lab data. Trends can clearly be seen suggesting samples 1–5 and 10–13 be selected for lab analysis. It can be argued that it is unnecessary to send samples 6–9 to the laboratory, potentially saving 30% of your lab costs within this sample subset. This is an example of an actual orientation survey on a customer project.

https://www.olympus-ims.com/en/handheld-xrf-in-exploration-drilling-reverse-circulation/rotary-air-blast-and-diamond-core/