X-rays in Geosciences and Mineralogy

Sigray’s AttoMap microXRF systems is a novel automated mineralogy solution that provides trace-level mapping at down to 3-5 µm resolution. For oil and gas exploration (digital rock physics), Sigray’s 3D x-ray microscopes (EclipseXRM and TriLambdaXRM) provide a multi-scale solution for in-situ three-phase flow and for multi-scale imaging of rock pores.

Automated Mineralogy with Micro X-ray Fluorescence (MicroXRF)

AttoMap provides a powerful complement to SEM-based mineralogy approaches by providing 1000X the sensitivity of SEM-EDS for trace elemental mapping. Because it was designed with a high vacuum enclosure, AttoMap-310 detects elements from Be to U and enables C, O, N mapping at high sensitivities (<1%). The system’s sensitivity to low atomic number elements, along with its AI-based grain segmentation, enables accurate mineralogical identification.

For correlative capabilities within the same tool, AttoMap provides integrated optical microscopy and footprint for additional modalities such as Raman spectroscopy.

Mineralogical mapping using Sigray’s AttoMap (left), a correlative optical image acquired with the AttoMap (upper right), and a SEM-EDS image of the same smaple
Mineralogy – even for light elements: Oxygen (green), Phosphorus (red), Arsenic (pink), Calcium (blue), and Copper (yellow) mapped in a geological rock by AttoMap-310. Courtesy Dr. S.S. Chinnasamy, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India
Digital Rock Physics and in-situ Three-Phase Flow

Sigray’s EclipseXRM provides sub-100nm voxel and 300nm spatial resolution for high resolution, high contrast 3D imaging of rock samples. The system provides both the flexibility to image larger core plugs and substantially higher resolution (see image on right). Most importantly, EclipseXRM provides the highest image quality for segmenting the image for pore and crack analysis.

EclipseXRM was architected with the flexibility for in-situ experiments and can accommodate cells designed for two and three phase flow studies.

EclipseXRM’s high resolution (300nm) provides dramatically higher performance for imaging difficult shale and carbonate samples.