Abstract: A particle presentation apparatus for presenting particles being conducted within a gaseous stream for instream spectroscopic elemental analysis includes a particle blending section for homogenizing the distribution particles of significantly different sizes received within a gaseous stream of randomly distributed particles; and a particle sampling section including a window that is adapted for passing a particle excitation beam, such as a laser beam, and photon emissions, and a conduit for conducting the homogenized stream of particles past the window so that a particle excitation beam passing through the window can pass into the stream of homogenized particles. The apparatus may be used in combination with a drilling machine, wherein the particle blending section is coupled to an outlet pipe of the drilling machine for receiving a said gaseous stream of randomly distributed particles that are expelled from a drill hole.

Abstract: A particle presentation apparatus for presenting particles being conducted within a gaseous stream for in-stream spectroscopic elemental analysis includes a particle blending section for homogenizing the distribution particles of significantly different sizes received within a gaseous stream of randomly distributed particles; and a particle sampling section including a window that is adapted for passing a particle excitation beam, such as a laser beam, and photon emissions, and a conduit for conducting the homogenized stream of particles past the window so that a particle excitation beam passing through the window can pass into the stream of homogenized particles. The apparatus may be used in combination with a drilling machine, wherein the particle blending section is coupled to an outlet pipe of the drilling machine for receiving a said gaseous stream of randomly distributed particles that are expelled from a drill hole.

Abstract: A set of calibration/reference standard components are used to calibrate and/or validate the calibration of a material analyzer of the type that has a measurement region and measurement apparatus for measuring properties of a material specimen occupying a given portion of the measurement region. The analyzer is calibrated or the calibration is validated by taking measurements while a calibration/reference standard of known chemical composition is disposed within the measurement region of the analyzer to simulate the occupancy of the given portion of the measurement region by the material specimen. The set includes elongated calibration/reference standard components that are individually packaged in a hard shell for being so combined with each other in the measurement region as to simulate the occupancy within the given portion of the measurement region by the material specimen, and are further individually packaged for unaided handling of individual components by one or two persons.