Abstract: The present invention relates generally to devices able to manipulate, process, treat, sort, measure and/or analyse samples at a micro level, commonly referred to as microfluidic devices. In particular, the present invention relates to a microfluidic device that can be used for the analysis of particulate samples, such as by the leaching at a micro level of a crushed rock particulate sample from a mineral ore body and the subsequent analysis of the leachate. The present invention also relates to a method for the use of a microfluidic device for the analysis of a particulate sample.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel device comprising a sol-gel filled microchannel and methods for purifying nucleic acids from biological samples. In one embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the microfluidic device (1) comprises a base (2) with a microchannel (3) formed in the interior of base (2), wherein said microchannel (3) is filled with a sol-gel matrix and in fluid communication with an inlet port (4) and outlet port (5) wherein inlet port (4) and outlet port (5) are formed on the exterior surface (10) of base (2). The device may be further provided with additional components to allow for analytical analysis of the purified nucleic acid sequences.