Characterizing The Economic Value Of An Epithermal Au-Ag Ore With Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (Libs): Possibilities And Limitations

However, the Au and Ag grades of the samples are below the detection limit of the LIBS setup that was used. Furthermore, sample heterogeneity imposed difficulties for extracting quantitative compositional information from LIBS spectra due to signal intensity variations and chemical matrix effects. By applying a principle component analysis to the LIBS dataset it was discovered that LIBS can be used to distinguish waste samples by using the spectra as chemical fingerprints of alteration mineralogy. This means that there is potential that an on-line LIBS system can be used to monitor of the economic value of epithermal Au-Ag ores by using the alteration mineralogy as indirect indicators.