Mineral Research
Worldwide Mineral Research Services
From prospectors needing accurate material identification to vendors requiring verification of imported stone quality, our advanced testing capabilities deliver definitive answers where your specimens are located. Gain conclusive results by bringing our professional mineral identification equipment and expertise to your site, anywhere in the world.
Mineral Research
At Mobile Lapidary and Mineral Research, we combine decades of practical experience with advanced scientific testing methodologies to provide comprehensive mineral analysis wherever you need it.
Whether evaluating a new claim’s potential or verifying the composition of imported materials, our on-site mineral research services provide the clarity you need without shipping precious samples to distant laboratories.
Hardness Scale
Hardness testing provides crucial information about a mineral’s practical applications, durability, and market value. Our mobile mineral research services include comprehensive hardness testing using both standard and specialized methodologies, delivering precise data about your material’s resistance to abrasion and scratching. This fundamental property significantly impacts processing requirements, potential applications, and overall value assessment for both gemstone and industrial materials.
Hardness Test for Minerals
Our field-ready hardness testing protocols provide immediate, accurate assessment of your material’s resistance to scratching and abrasion. Using both standard reference materials and specialized equipment, we determine precise hardness values that guide processing decisions and help establish market value. This essential mineral research service delivers actionable data about your specimen’s durability and workability directly at your location.
Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness
Our mineral identification process includes precise Mohs hardness testing, positioning your material accurately on the standard 1-10 scale used worldwide for mineral classification. This fundamental test provides immediate insights into your material’s identity and practical applications, from soft minerals suitable for carving to exceptionally hard specimens with specialized industrial or gemstone potential. Our mobile mineral research brings this essential classification tool directly to your location, providing immediate results that guide further testing and processing decisions.
Mineral Identification
Our detailed mineral identification services combine visual assessment, physical testing, and chemical analysis to determine your specimen’s precise composition and classification. This fundamental mineral research service provides definitive answers about material identity, establishing the foundation for all valuation and processing decisions. Rather than sending samples to external testing facilities, our mobile approach brings advanced identification capabilities right to your material, delivering immediate answers about your specimens’ composition and value.
Mineral Properties
Our systematic evaluation process examines all diagnostic mineral properties, including crystal structure, luster, cleavage, fracture patterns, specific gravity, and optical characteristics. This comprehensive approach to mineral identification ensures accurate classification even for complex or unusual specimens. Our mobile mineral research equipment allows us to evaluate these properties at your location, providing immediate insights into your material's identity and potential value.
Quartz identification
Our specialized quartz identification protocols distinguish between valuable quartz varieties including amethyst, citrine, smoky quartz, and rose quartz, as well as identifying potential simulator materials. This focused mineral research service is particularly valuable for claims with apparent quartz deposits, helping determine their true market potential and optimal processing approaches. Our field-ready identification tools provide immediate verification of quartz varieties on-site, resolving classification questions about your material's authentic identity and value.
Identifying rocks and gems
For mixed specimens containing multiple mineral types, our comprehensive identification protocols determine both primary and accessory minerals present in your samples. This detailed mineral research approach is particularly valuable for complex ore bodies or materials with potential for multiple valuable components. Our mobile identification services evaluate the complete composition of your specimens, revealing hidden value that might be overlooked by less thorough analysis methods.
Metallic Rock Identification
For specimens with metallic appearance or suspected metal content, our specialized identification protocols determine precise mineral composition beyond simple visual assessment. This critical mineral research service distinguishes valuable metallic minerals from common look-alikes, preventing costly misidentification of potential ore materials. Our mobile testing capabilities bring advanced metallic mineral identification directly to your site, providing immediate answers about your material's true composition and value.
Calcite Identification
Our calcite identification services definitively distinguish this common mineral from similar-appearing materials that may have significantly different values and applications. Through precise optical and chemical testing, we verify calcite presence and assess quality for various commercial applications. Our mobile mineral research brings these specialized identification capabilities directly to your location, providing immediate clarity about calcite-like specimens and their potential market value.
Silver Ore Identification
For suspected silver-bearing materials, our extensive testing protocols provide definitive identification of silver minerals and associated compounds. This specialized mineral research service is critical for accurate valuation of potential silver deposits and determination of optimal processing approaches. Our mobile silver identification capabilities bring laboratory-quality testing to your property, delivering conclusive results about your material's precious metal content without transporting important samples to off-site analysis centers.
Iron Ore Identification
Our iron ore identification services accurately classify various iron-bearing minerals including hematite, magnetite, limonite, and siderite, along with determining approximate iron content percentages. This specialized mineral research provides essential data for evaluating commercial viability of suspected iron deposits. Our mobile testing capabilities deliver immediate iron ore identification at your location, providing crucial information for mining and processing decisions without transportation delays.
Hematite Identification
Our specialized hematite identification protocols definitively distinguish this valuable iron ore from similar-appearing materials through both physical and chemical testing methods. This focused mineral research service provides clear determination of hematite quality and potential applications. Our mobile identification capabilities verify hematite presence and characteristics directly at your site, delivering immediate answers about your material's composition and commercial potential.
Amazonite Identification
For suspected amazonite specimens, our comprehensive testing distinguishes genuine material from similar-appearing feldspar varieties that may have significantly different market values. This specialized mineral research service includes color stability assessment and evaluation of characteristic properties. Our mobile identification capabilities provide definitive amazonite verification at your location, eliminating uncertainty about your material's true classification and value without shipping valuable specimens.
Amphibole Identification
Our specialized amphibole identification services distinguish between the numerous minerals in this complex group, including commercially valuable varieties and potentially hazardous forms requiring special handling. This precise mineral research is essential for both safety and accurate valuation. Our mobile testing capabilities provide definitive amphibole classification directly at your site, delivering crucial information about your material's composition, value, and handling requirements.
Corundum Identification
For suspected ruby or sapphire specimens, our comprehensive corundum identification protocols verify genuine material and distinguish natural stones from synthetic alternatives. This specialized mineral research service includes color evaluation and inclusion analysis for full value assessment. Our mobile identification capabilities provide immediate corundum verification at your location, eliminating uncertainty about valuable gemstone materials without transporting precious specimens to distant laboratories.
Apatite Identification
Our apatite identification services definitively classify this commercially important mineral group through precise physical and chemical testing methodologies. This specialized mineral research distinguishes valuable apatite varieties from similar-appearing materials with different applications and values. Our mobile testing capabilities provide clear apatite verification directly at your site, delivering immediate answers about your material's phosphate mineral content and potential applications.
Biotite Identification
For suspected biotite specimens, our comprehensive testing protocols distinguish this common mica mineral from similar sheet silicates through focused examination of physical and optical properties. This specialized mineral research service provides clear classification and quality assessment. Our mobile identification capabilities verify biotite characteristics directly at your location, eliminating uncertainty about your material's true composition without shipping samples for distant analysis.
Dolomite Identification
Our dolomite identification services definitively distinguish this valuable industrial mineral from similar carbonates, particularly calcite, through specialized chemical and physical testing. This precise mineral research is essential for accurate valuation and processing decisions. Our mobile testing capabilities provide immediate dolomite verification at your site, delivering crucial information about carbonate mineral composition without transportation delays or external laboratory costs.
Chalcopyrite Identification
For suspected copper-bearing specimens, our comprehensive chalcopyrite identification protocols distinguish this valuable ore mineral from similar-appearing pyrite and other sulfides with significantly different values. This specialized mineral research service includes copper content estimation for preliminary valuation. Our mobile identification capabilities provide immediate chalcopyrite verification at your location, eliminating uncertainty about potential copper ore without shipping valuable samples to distant facilities.
Fluorite Identification
Our fluorite identification services definitively classify this commercially valuable mineral through specialized testing of optical properties and characteristic fluorescence patterns. This focused mineral research distinguishes genuine fluorite from similar-appearing materials and evaluates quality for various applications. Our mobile testing capabilities verify fluorite presence and characteristics directly at your site, providing immediate answers about your material's composition and potential value.
Chalcedony Identification
For microcrystalline quartz specimens, our comprehensive chalcedony identification protocols distinguish between valuable varieties including agate, jasper, carnelian, and chrysoprase. This specialized mineral research service includes detailed pattern and color evaluation for accurate classification. Our mobile identification capabilities provide immediate chalcedony verification and variety classification at your location, delivering precise information about your material without transportation delays.
Galena Identification
Our galena identification services definitively verify this primary lead ore mineral through specialized physical and chemical testing methodologies. This precise mineral research includes assessment of silver content frequently associated with commercial galena deposits. Our mobile testing capabilities provide immediate galena confirmation directly at your site, delivering crucial information about lead-bearing specimens without shipping potentially valuable ore samples to distant laboratories.
Chemical Assessments
These advanced mineral research protocols deliver precise information about elemental makeup, revealing hidden value and guiding processing decisions. Our mobile chemical testing equipment brings laboratory-quality analysis directly to your location, providing immediate answers about your material’s composition without transportation delays or laboratory wait times.
Chemical Identification Tests
Our field-ready chemical testing protocols provide immediate compositional information through controlled reaction sequences tailored to specific mineral groups. This essential mineral research approach delivers rapid, accurate identification for materials that cannot be definitively classified through physical properties alone. Our portable testing equipment brings sophisticated analysis directly to your site, providing clear answers about your specimen’s composition without sending materials to remote analysis facilities.
What is a chemical test
Chemical testing in mineralogy involves controlled application of specific reagents that react with particular elements or compounds, producing characteristic color changes, effervescence, or other observable reactions that identify specific minerals. These specialized mineral research protocols provide definitive identification when physical properties alone are insufficient for classification. Our mobile chemical testing capabilities bring these sophisticated analytical techniques directly to your location, delivering immediate answers about your material’s composition without external laboratory delays.
Chemical Cleaning
Beyond identification, our chemical protocols include specialized cleaning procedures that reveal hidden features and prepare specimens for further analysis or display. These controlled mineral research techniques remove surface contaminants and matrix material without damaging valuable specimens. Our mobile chemical cleaning capabilities bring these specialized preparation methods directly to your location, enhancing both the aesthetic appeal and analytical clarity of your material without transportation risks.
Remote Material Classification Services
For clients in extremely remote or challenging locations, our comprehensive mineral research services can be deployed virtually anywhere on the planet. Requiring only basic infrastructure (220V 50-amp power, fresh water, drainage, and a secure environment), our self-contained mobile laboratory brings advanced material classification capabilities to even the most isolated sites.
This unique approach to worldwide mineral research eliminates the logistical challenges and security concerns of transporting valuable specimens for distant analysis, providing immediate answers about your material regardless of geographic location.
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