Wits Automated Mineralogy Laboratory

The WAM Lab is host to an automated mineral analyzer (TIMA) designed to provide high-resolution mineralogical and textural information. It therefore enables one to identify and quantify metals of interest, such as gold and PGEs, and examine their textural associations with gangue minerals. This information is critical for understanding how these metals occur within the ore, assessing how easily they can be extracted. TIMA can further play a role in allowing researchers to link textural information with geochronological data, thereby providing deeper insights into the processes that control mineral formation and evolution.

Access

Academics please contact Dr. Nonkuselo Madlakana and Dr. Leonidas Vonopartis to discuss the needs and the goals of your collaborative projects and any other necessary details. 

For any non-collaborative commercial projects, please contact Dr. Sarah Glynn who can provide you with information on services provided through Earth Quest Solutions.