Initial rock sample preparation is housed in a single comprehensive laboratory serviced by a Nederman Modular Filtration System with HEPA filtration and four articulating point-source fume arms. The equipment in this laboratory includes:
- a full rock cutting and polishing suite including a variety of diamond saws, a thin section cut-off saw, grinding wheels, vibramat slab polisher, and impregnation equipment for thin section and mineral mount preparation;
- a full rock crushing and first-stage mineral separation suite including a Bico jaw crusher, a Bico rotary disc mill, shaker sieves, and pyramid-style water table for water-based density separation;
- a full rock powdering suite including a Spex ball mill and Shatterbox with alumina grinding vessels for geochemical powder preparation.
