Efficient and accurate identification of platinum group minerals by a combination of Mineral Liberation Analysis and Electron Probe Microanalyser with a new approach of offline overlap correction of Platinum Group Elements Concentrations

Identification and accurate characterisation of platinum group minerals (PGM) is a very cumbersome procedure due to their grain sizes that are mostly below 10 µm and a light microscopic appearance that is rather inconspicuous. A novel strategy for finding PGM and quantifying their composition was applied by combining a mineral liberation analyser (MLA), a point logging system and an electron probe microanalyser (EPMA).
As a first step the PGM are identified, using the MLA. Grains identified as PGM are then marked and coordinates recorded and transferred to the EPMA. Case studies illustrate that the combination of MLA, point logger and EPMA results in the identification of several times more PGMs than by careful reflected light microscopy. Wavelength dispersive spectrometer analyses of PGM by EPMA require considerable caution due to overlaps of X-rays on both peak and background of almost all PGE and associated elements. X-ray lines suitable for quantitative analyses need to be carefully selected. As peak overlaps cannot be avoided completely, an offline overlap correction based on weight percent proportions has been developed and explained in detail. Results obtained with the procedure proposed in this study attain acceptable totals and atomic proportions, concluding that the applied corrections are appropriate.