Testing Capabilities of the Center

The Center accurately determines nearly 80 chemical elements in all types of geological, water and environmental samples, in solid and liquid form, from trace and minor to major concentrations (from ppb to %), with nearly 200 test methods, including VILAS-accredited tests. These include:

• Determination of 36 elements:
  • Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, CaO, MgO, MnO, TiO₂, P₂O₅, K₂O: from 0.005% to 20%;
  • Ag, Cd, Co, V: from 2 ppm;
  • Be, Ce, Cr, Cu, La, Li, Mo, Nb, Ni, Pb, Sc, Sr, Y, Zn: from 5 ppm;
  • B, Ba, Bi, Ga, Sb, Ta, Sn: from 10 ppm;
  • As, Ge, W: from 20 ppm.
• Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Co, Ni, V, Bi, Sb in geological and mineral samples: 0.001 – 50%.
• Sn, W, Mo, Cr in geological samples: 0.001 – 50%.
• Individual determination of 15 rare earth elements in geological samples, from 0.1 g/t.
• Trace elements Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Co, Ni, V, Bi, Sb, Si, Al, Ba, P, Sr, Fe, Ca, Mg, Mo, B, Mn, W, Cr, Sn, Ti, Zr in water samples.
• Zr in geochemical samples.
• Al₂O₃, SiO₂, TFe₂O₃, TiO₂, P, S in bauxite and iron ores.
• Element contents in Zr, Ti, Pb, Zn ores…
• Water quality parameters: BOD, COD, TDS, TSS, NO₃^-, NO₂^-, F^-, pH.
• Au and Pt in geological and mineral samples, with a sensitivity from 0.1 g/t.
• Metallic ores:
  • Antimony ore: As, Sb;
  • Bauxite: Al₂O₃, SiO₂, TFe₂O₃, TiO₂, loss on ignition...;
  • Lead-zinc ore: Cu, Pb, Zn, SiO₂, S, Fe₂O₃;
  • Chromium ore: Cr₂O₃;
  • Copper ore: Cu, Al₂O₃, SiO₂, TFe₂O₃, TiO₂, CaO, MgO, K₂O...;
  • Manganese and iron ores: TFe, Mn, Al₂O₃, SiO₂, CaO, MgO, P, S...;
  • Tin-tungsten ore: Sn, W...;
  • Mercury ore: Hg;
  • Ilmenite: Al₂O₃, SiO₂, TFe₂O₃, TiO₂, CaO, MgO, K₂O...
• Non-metallic samples: silicates, clay, kaolin, limestone, dolomite, sand, albite, feldspar, barite...
• Atomic absorption spectrometry: Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn, Co, Ni, Bi, Mn, As, Sb...
• Coal analysis.
• Mineral salt analysis.
• Physical and mechanical testing.

Workforce

The Center has 61 public employees and workers, with an average age of 42. By civil service grade, there is 1 senior specialist and 11 principal specialists or equivalent. 19 staff hold a master's degree and 34 a bachelor's degree (87%); 8 have vocational or elementary qualifications (13%).