Abstract: There is described herein a method for preparation of an at least partially liquid sample for activation analysis. The method may comprise placing the sample containing at least one target element in a container and solidifying the sample within the container. There is also described herein a method and a system for performing neutron or gamma activation analysis. The method may comprise providing an at least partially liquid sample containing at least one target element. The sample is solidified. The solidified sample is irradiated to activate at least one target element within the sample. The number of gamma rays emitted by the at least one target element may be measured. A value representative of the concentration of the at least one target element in the sample may be determined utilising the measurement of gamma rays emitted by the at least one target element and a calibration determined from a solid sample of known composition.

Abstract: Moisture content in a sample material undergoing elemental activation analysis (EAA) is determined. The sample material contains a sample element which during EAA forms an activation product. A reference material, distinct from the sample element, is positioned in vicinity of the sample material. The reference material contains a reference element having a thermal neutron capture cross-section. The reference material is selected such that its product isotope of a thermal neutron capture reaction is a radioisotope that emits gamma-rays. The sample material and the reference material are irradiated with a source of fast neutrons to produce thermal neutrons in the sample material. Signals are generated representative of detected gamma-rays emitted from the reference material. A factor, R, proportional to the thermal neutron flux, is calculated based on the generated signals. From a relationship relating moisture content to R, the moisture content in the sample material is determined.

Abstract: The application discloses an X-ray fluorescence system comprising an X-ray source to emit X-ray radiation incident on the sample and a controller to vary an energy of the X-ray radiation incident on the sample between at least a first incident radiation energy and a second incident radiation energy. The system further comprises an X-ray fluorescence detector to detect X-ray radiation fluoresced by the sample in response to the incident X-ray radiation and determine at least: a first fluorescence radiation intensity of X-ray radiation fluoresced by the sample in response to the X-ray radiation incident on the sample at the first incident energy and a second fluorescence radiation intensity of X-ray fluorescence radiation fluoresced by the sample in response to the X-ray radiation incident on the sample at the second incident energy. A method of X-ray fluorescence is also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer extracts from contact records that each include a contact identifier, a group identifier for each group with which the contact has had an interaction, and interaction information that indicates a number of interactions and a timing of a most recent interaction. The contact data records are processed to generate a contact profile record for each contact including group metric values and a corresponding value for each group metric value based on an interaction history of groups the contact has interacted with. An interaction analytics databases stores a set of contact profile records and group profile records for groups that include metric values associated with the group and an interaction history. They are processed with at least thousands of the contact profile records to determine group-contact compatibility factors. A compatibility parameter is generated and communicated for each of at least thousands of contacts based on the group-contact compatibility parameters.

Abstract: A computer extracts from contact records that each include a contact identifier, a group identifier for each group with which the contact has had an interaction, and interaction information that indicates a number of interactions and a timing of a most recent interaction. The contact data records are processed to generate a contact profile record for each contact including group metric values and a corresponding value for each group metric value based on an interaction history of groups the contact has interacted with. An interaction analytics databases stores a set of contact profile records and group profile records for groups that include metric values associated with the group and an interaction history. They are processed with at least thousands of the contact profile records to determine group-contact compatibility factors. A compatibility parameter is generated and communicated for each of at least thousands of contacts based on the group-contact compatibility parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus for bulk ore sorting using gamma activation analysis is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conveyor system that includes one or more conveyor belts, surrounded by one or more radiation shields, to transport ore material along a transport path. A pulsed X-ray radiation source is configured to irradiate ore material at an irradiation region and one or more detectors are configured to detect a gamma radiation output from irradiated ore material at a detection region. The transport path has a bend, located between the irradiation region and the detection region, and about a vertical axis, of at least 45 degrees. The one or more detectors are configured to detect a radiation output from the irradiated ore material at times between X-ray pulses of the pulsed X-ray radiation source irradiating the ore material.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed to determine a concentration of one or more target elements in a sample, using gamma activation analysis comprising: simultaneously irradiating the sample and a reference material containing at least two reference elements X-rays, detecting deactivation gamma-rays from the irradiated sample and the irradiated reference material; determining the concentration of the or each target element in the sample by correcting the number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from any of the or each target element present in the irradiated sample based on the number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from the at least two reference elements, wherein the at least two reference elements have a variation in activation rate over a pre-defined X-ray end-point energy range which differs from one another.

Abstract: A computer extracts from contact records that each include a contact identifier, a group identifier for each group with which the contact has had an interaction, and interaction information that indicates a number of interactions and a timing of a most recent interaction. The contact data records are processed to generate a contact profile record for each contact including group metric values and a corresponding value for each group metric value based on an interaction history of groups the contact has interacted with. An interaction analytics databases stores a set of contact profile records and group profile records for groups that include metric values associated with the group and an interaction history. They are processed with at least thousands of the contact profile records to determine group-contact compatibility factors. A compatibility parameter is generated and communicated for each of at least thousands of contacts based on the group-contact compatibility parameters.

Abstract: A computer extracts from contact records that each include a contact identifier, a group identifier for each group with which the contact has had an interaction, and interaction information that indicates a number of interactions and a timing of a most recent interaction. The contact data records are processed to generate a contact profile record for each contact including group metric values and a corresponding value for each group metric value based on an interaction history of groups the contact has interacted with. An interaction analytics databases stores a set of contact profile records and group profile records for groups that include metric values associated with the group and an interaction history. They are processed with at least thousands of the contact profile records to determine group-contact compatibility factors. A compatibility parameter is generated and communicated for each of at least thousands of contacts based on the group-contact compatibility parameters.

Abstract: A shielded X-ray radiation apparatus is provided comprising an X-ray source, an X-ray attenuation shield including an elongate cavity to house the X-ray source and incorporating a region to accommodate a sample, a neutron attenuation shield, and a gamma attenuation shield. The neutron attenuation shield is situated adjacent to and substantially surrounds the X-ray attenuation shield and the gamma attenuation shield is adjacent to and substantially surrounds the neutron attenuation shield. In some embodiments a removable sample insertion means is provided to insert samples into the elongate cavity and which is composed of adjacent blocks of material, each respective block having a thickness and a composition which substantially matches the thickness and a composition of one of the X-ray attenuation, neutron attenuation and gamma-ray attenuation shields.

Abstract: A computer extracts from contact records that each include a contact identifier, a group identifier for each group with which the contact has had an interaction, and interaction information that indicates a number of interactions and a timing of a most recent interaction. The contact data records are processed to generate a contact profile record for each contact including group metric values and a corresponding value for each group metric value based on an interaction history of groups the contact has interacted with. An interaction analytics databases stores a set of contact profile records and group profile records for groups that include metric values associated with the group and an interaction history. They are processed with at least thousands of the contact profile records to determine group-contact compatibility factors. A compatibility parameter is generated and communicated for each of at least thousands of contacts based on the group-contact compatibility parameters.

Abstract: A shielded X-ray radiation apparatus is provided comprising an X-ray source, an X-ray attenuation shield including an elongate cavity to house the X-ray source and incorporating a region to accommodate a sample, a neutron attenuation shield, and a gamma attenuation shield. The neutron attenuation shield is situated adjacent to and substantially surrounds the X-ray attenuation shield and the gamma attenuation shield is adjacent to and substantially surrounds the neutron attenuation shield. In some embodiments a removable sample insertion means is provided to insert samples into the elongate cavity and which is composed of adjacent blocks of material, each respective block having a thickness and a composition which substantially matches the thickness and a composition of one of the X-ray attenuation, neutron attenuation and gamma-ray attenuation shields.

Abstract: A system and method is provided to determine the moisture content in a sample material undergoing elemental activation analysis (EAA), the sample material containing at least one sample element which during EAA forms an activation product.

Abstract: An apparatus for bulk ore sorting using gamma activation analysis is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conveyor system that includes one or more conveyor belts, surrounded by one or more radiation shields, to transport ore material along a transport path. A pulsed X-ray radiation source is configured to irradiate ore material at an irradiation region and one or more detectors are configured to detect a gamma radiation output from irradiated ore material at a detection region. The transport path has a bend, located between the irradiation region and the detection region, and about a vertical axis, of at least 45 degrees. The one or more detectors are configured to detect a radiation output from the irradiated ore material at times between X-ray pulses of the pulsed X-ray radiation source irradiating the ore material.

Abstract: A computer extracts from contact records that each include a contact identifier, a group identifier for each group with which the contact has had an interaction, and interaction information that indicates a number of interactions and a timing of a most recent interaction. The contact data records are processed to generate a contact profile record for each contact including group metric values and a corresponding value for each group metric value based on an interaction history of groups the contact has interacted with. A set of contact profile records is stored in interaction analytics databases. The computer generates group profile records for groups that include metric values associated with the group and an interaction history. They are compared with at least thousands of the contact profile records to calculate group-contact compatibility factors. A compatibility parameter is generated and communicated for each of at least thousands of contacts based on the group-contact compatibility parameters.

Abstract: A computer extracts from contact records that each include a contact identifier, a group identifier for each group with which the contact has had an interaction, and interaction information that indicates a number of interactions and a timing of a most recent interaction. The contact data records are processed to generate a contact profile record for each contact including group metric values and a corresponding value for each group metric value based on an interaction history of groups the contact has interacted with. A set of contact profile records is stored in interaction analytics databases. The computer generates group profile records for groups that include metric values associated with the group and an interaction history. They are compared with at least thousands of the contact profile records to calculate group-contact compatibility factors. A compatibility parameter is generated and communicated for each of at least thousands of contacts based on the group-contact compatibility parameters.

Abstract: A method to determine a concentration of a target element in a sample is provide. The method comprises (i) positioning a sample containing a target element with respect to a reference material containing a reference element, (ii) simultaneously irradiating the sample and the reference material with Bremsstrahlung X-rays to thereby produce activated nuclei in the target element and to produce activated nuclei in the reference element, (iii) detecting deactivation gamma-rays' from the irradiated sample and deactivation gamma-rays from the irradiated reference material, (iv) determining a first number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from the irradiated sample and a second number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from the reference material, and (v) determining the concentration of the target element in the sample by first normalising the first number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from the irradiated sample by the second number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from the reference material.

Abstract: A method to determine a concentration of a target element in a sample is provide. The method comprises (i) positioning a sample containing a target element with respect to a reference material containing a reference element, (ii) simultaneously irradiating the sample and the reference material with Bremsstrahlung X-rays to thereby produce activated nuclei in the target element and to produce activated nuclei in the reference element, (iii) detecting deactivation gamma-rays' from the irradiated sample and deactivation gamma-rays from the irradiated reference material, (iv) determining a first number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from the irradiated sample and a second number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from the reference material, and (v) determining the concentration of the target element in the sample by first normalising the first number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from the irradiated sample by the second number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from the reference material.