Automated mineral classification
First Claim
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1. A method for determining the mineral content of a sample, said method comprising:
- placing a sample in a scanning electron microscope;
directing an electron beam to a point on the sample to obtain an x-ray spectrum of the sample and a backscatter electron intensity value, the x-ray spectrum and the backscatter electron intensity value corresponding to a data point, the data point having an associated mineral composition;
sequentially applying rules from a first set of rules to the x-ray spectrum of the data point, wherein each rule identifies a mineral composition and comprises one or more criteria corresponding to the mineral composition that the rule identifies, and applying the rule comprises comparing the x-ray spectrum of the data point to the one or more criteria of the rule;
identifying the mineral composition of the data point as the mineral composition of the first rule of the first set of rules applied to the x-ray spectrum of the data point in which the one or more criteria are satisfied;
if and only if the x-ray spectrum of the data point fails to satisfy the one or more criteria of any of the rules of the first set of rules, comparing the x-ray spectrum of the data point to x-ray spectra of different mineral definitions in a library of mineral definitions to determine which of the minerals defined in the library is a best match for the data point; and
if the value of a metric of similarity between the x-ray spectrum of the data point and the x-ray spectrum of the mineral definition for the best matching mineral in the library meets a predetermined threshold, identifying the mineral composition of the data point as the mineral composition corresponding to the best matching mineral defined in the library.
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Abstract
The present invention discloses a combination of two existing approaches for mineral analysis and makes use of the Similarity Metric Invention, that allows mineral definitions to be described in theoretical compositional terms, meaning that users are not required to find examples of each mineral, or adjust rules. This system allows untrained operators to use it, as opposed to previous systems, which required extensive training and expertise.
92 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for determining the mineral content of a sample, said method comprising:
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placing a sample in a scanning electron microscope; directing an electron beam to a point on the sample to obtain an x-ray spectrum of the sample and a backscatter electron intensity value, the x-ray spectrum and the backscatter electron intensity value corresponding to a data point, the data point having an associated mineral composition; sequentially applying rules from a first set of rules to the x-ray spectrum of the data point, wherein each rule identifies a mineral composition and comprises one or more criteria corresponding to the mineral composition that the rule identifies, and applying the rule comprises comparing the x-ray spectrum of the data point to the one or more criteria of the rule; identifying the mineral composition of the data point as the mineral composition of the first rule of the first set of rules applied to the x-ray spectrum of the data point in which the one or more criteria are satisfied; if and only if the x-ray spectrum of the data point fails to satisfy the one or more criteria of any of the rules of the first set of rules, comparing the x-ray spectrum of the data point to x-ray spectra of different mineral definitions in a library of mineral definitions to determine which of the minerals defined in the library is a best match for the data point; and if the value of a metric of similarity between the x-ray spectrum of the data point and the x-ray spectrum of the mineral definition for the best matching mineral in the library meets a predetermined threshold, identifying the mineral composition of the data point as the mineral composition corresponding to the best matching mineral defined in the library. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A scanning electron microscope system for determining the mineral content of a mineral sample, comprising:
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an electron beam column for directing an electron beam toward a mineral sample; a detector for measuring the energy or wavelength of x-rays emitted from the mineral sample in response to an impingement on the mineral sample of electrons in the electron beam to create an x-ray spectrum of a data point; a processor for executing computer instructions to determine the minerals present in the mineral sample; and a computer memory containing computer instructions configured for; sequentially comparing the x-ray spectrum of the data point to criteria within a first set of rules, each criterion corresponding to a mineral composition, and identifying the mineral composition of the data point as the mineral composition corresponding to the first satisfied criterion; if and only if the x-ray spectrum of the data point fails to satisfy any of the criteria in the first set of rules, comparing the x-ray spectrum of the data point to x-ray spectra of mineral definitions in a library of mineral definitions to determine which of the minerals defined in the library is a best match for the data point; and if the match between the x-ray spectrum of the data point and the x-ray spectrum of the mineral definition for the best matching mineral in the library meets a predetermined threshold, identifying the mineral composition of the data point as the mineral composition corresponding to the best matching mineral defined in the library. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A scanning electron microscope system for determining the mineral content of a mineral sample, comprising:
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an electron beam column for directing an electron beam toward a mineral sample; a detector for measuring the energy or wavelength of x-rays emitted from the mineral sample in response to an impingement on the mineral sample of electrons in the electron beam to create an x-ray spectrum of a data point; a processor for executing computer instructions to determine the minerals present in the mineral sample; and a computer memory containing computer instructions configured for; sequentially applying rules from a first set of rules to the x-ray spectrum of the data point, wherein each rule identifies a mineral composition and comprises one or more criteria corresponding to the mineral composition that the rule identifies, and applying the rule comprises comparing the x-ray spectrum of the data point to the one or more criteria of the rule; identifying the mineral composition of the data point as the mineral composition of the first rule of the first set of rules applied to the x-ray spectrum of the data point in which the one or more criteria are satisfied; if and only if the x-ray spectrum of the data point fails to satisfy the one or more criteria of any of the rules of the first set of rules, comparing the x-ray spectrum of the data point to x-ray spectra of different mineral definitions in a library of mineral definitions to determine which of the minerals defined in the library is a best match for the data point; and if the value of a metric of similarity between the x-ray spectrum of the data point and the x-ray spectrum of the mineral definition for the best matching mineral in the library meets a predetermined threshold, identifying the mineral composition of the data point as the mineral composition corresponding to the best matching mineral defined in the library. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification