AU2011256871B2

AU2011256871B2 - Device and method for analysing samples when prospecting

Info

Publication number: AU2011256871B2
Application number: AU2011256871A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Mikael Artursson; Nicklas Bragsjo; Matti Halonen; Carl Johansson; Veno Krpo; Annelie Lundstrom; Claes Sernevi; Almir Smajic
Original assignee: MINALYZE AB
Current assignee: MINALYZE AB
Priority date: 2010-05-20
Filing date: 2011-05-20
Publication date: 2014-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 2031-05-20
Also published as: CA2835395A1; AU2011256871A1; CA2835395C; SE1000537A1; SE534606C2; WO2011146014A1; FI125483B; FI20126209A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device and a method for prospecting analysis along samples, such as cores or cuttings, extracted during the exploration of natural resources such as ore, oil and gas. The device includes a supporting structure, a receiver for at least one sample and an analysis unit arranged to follow a scanning path along the sample and to produce a scanned data output. The analysis unit and the receiver of the sample are movably arranged relative to each other, whereby the receiver of the sample is movably arranged relative to the support structure by means of a first positioning unit for movement in a first direction, X-direction, and the analysis unit is movably arranged relative to the support structure by means of a second and a third positioning unit for moving the analysis unit in a second and a third direction, Y- and Z- direction. The positioning units are controlled by a control unit. Further, the device comprises a position determining means arranged for determining the position of a ridge path of the sample during the analysis scanning and generating a corresponding ridge path signal. The relative position between the analysis unit and the sample is controlled by means of the control unit in dependence of the ridge path signal, so that a coincidence of the scanning path and the sample ridge path is continuously established and maintained during the analysis scanning process.

Description

WO 2011/146014 PCT/SE2011/050637 Device and method for analysing samples when prospecting Technical area. The present invention relates to a device and a method to improve and speed up the process of exploration of natural resources such as ore, oil and gas. Exploration in these respects includes analysis of elements which are components of minerals and rocks, etc. in the bedrock. The device is of the kind that includes a supporting structure, a receiver for at least one sample and an analysis unit arranged to follow a scanning path along a sample, such as a core or cuttings, and to produce a scanned data output, revealing the sample properties of interest. The analysis unit and the receiver of the sample are movably arranged relative to each other in the supporting structure. The method is of the kind that performs analysis of samples extracted during the exploration of natural resources, such as, ore, oil and gas, using an analysis device with a receiver for one or more samples and an analysis unit for scanning of the sample or samples, following a scanning path, including method steps where at least one sample is placed on the receiver, the analysis unit scans the sample or samples while the analysis unit and the receiver with the sample or samples move relative to each other. Background. Exploration of the above-mentioned type has long been performed in such a way that, after having found a location with an indicated deposit through well known methods, an exploration drilling is performed in order to obtain a better basis for a subsequent decision on a full investment in further mining operations. During exploration drilling, cores and/or cuttings are extracted and then later analyzed in detail. When having extracted drill samples in the field in the form of drill cores, from boreholes, the cores are usually divided into samples of typically around 1 meter long, which are stored a few pieces together in purpose-made boxes. The number of samples in each box is usually 4-6, and they are usually separated in separate compartments. Some of the samples are selected manually and sent to traditional laboratories, where they usually undergo chemical WO 2011/146014 PCT/SE2011/050637 2 analysis of its mineral contents. It is obviously important that the cores are always documented with respect to borehole, depth, and the order in which they were extracted. Normally, since the amount of cores is extensive, causing the following analysis to become time-consuming and cumbersome, it is preferred to have a geologist present in the field already at the drilling site, in order to make a visual inspection of the cores, and to make an initial decision as to whether the results look promising, or perhaps choose particularly interesting specimens of the cores to be shipped to a laboratory. However, there are problems with this. A number of elements and compounds cannot be seen with the naked eye, so a more exhaustive analysis would be desirable. The big problem with the above approach is that it may take a long time from when you extract the cores until a full analysis has been made, sometimes up to six months. Another problem with traditional analysis is that the samples require preparation, i.e. the samples are irreversibly affected physically before the analysis is carried out. It is sometimes also a problem to keep the identity of the individual samples and to document exactly where on a sample a valuable indication is found. To obtain more complete and quicker analysis than by visual inspection, instruments have been developed that can perform a longitudinal sample analysis, at the drill site. Such an instrument, which uses X-ray fluorescence detector technology, called XRF technology, is marketed by, among others the company Thermo Scientific with their product NITON XRF Analyzer. The instrument is portable and designed for hand-held operation during the scan. The analysis of this type of instrument is certainly better than visual inspection, but accuracy suffers when an instrument is hand-held. One of the problems with hand held scanners is the uncertainty of the measured data due to variations in the distance between the analyser and the scanned sample. Evaluations of the Niton XRF Analyzer have shown that unwanted variations in the resulting data depend on variations in the measuring distance to the object, which in turn results in uncertainty in the properties of the surface, giving unreliable analytical results. Further in the Finnish patent no. 120 164, a device and a method for analyzing cores is generally described, which is intended for detailed analysis at drill sites. The patent description does not elaborate on the design of the scanning device or on how the scanning or documentation is performed in detail, but it is nevertheless clear that an expert is required to handle this equipment. This means that normally the handling is performed by a party that WO 2011/146014 PCT/SE2011/050637 3 is considered external in relation to the exploration company. This is perceived as a problem. The result of the exploration drilling is sensitive information and a prospector is therefore reluctant to share this information with external parties. Summary of the invention and its advantages. According to the present invention the above mentioned routines and insufficiencies are improved with a device in which the receiver of the sample is movably arranged relative to the support structure by means of a first positioning unit for movement in a first direction, X direction, and the analysis unit is movably arranged relative to the support structure by means of a second and a third positioning unit for moving the analysis unit in a second and a third direction, Y- and Z- direction. The positioning units are controlled by a control unit. The device further comprises a position determining means arranged for determining the position of a ridge path of the sample during the analysis scanning and generating a corresponding ridge path output signal, where the relative position between the analysis unit and the sample is controlled by means of the control unit in dependence of the ridge path output signal, so that a coincidence of the scanning path and the sample ridge path is continuously established and maintained during the analysis scanning process. The invention enables the creation of a mobile device, manageable and easily transportable onto the field, which in turn enables a direct analysis of material from the bedrock at or in the vicinity of an area where exploration is being performed or in areas where the material is stored. Through the use of the present invention it is possible to receive an automated, thoroughly documented analysis of drill cores or cuttings already in a field environment, which analysis process does not require external expertise. With the use of the present invention, the time for the analysis of cores and drill cuttings can be substantially shortened. Instead of having to wait several months or weeks, analytical results can be obtained shortly after the drill core or drill cuttings have been examined at ground level. This brings great advantages over other known methods, and especially the time saving is considered valuable. One of the advantages is that it can quickly steer the drilling program based on drilling results. Another advantage is that the present invention makes it possible to use a non-destructive analysis of the cores or drill cuttings. In the traditional analysis, the samples would have to be prepared before analysis is carried out. This is not needed when analysing using the present invention, which contributes to both time savings and cost reduction. Thus the invention allows a non destructive analysis and thus other important information can be extracted from cores and drill cuttings at a later stage, such as micro-structure of the surface.

WO 2011/146014 PCT/SE2011/050637 4 In one embodiment of the invention, the position determining means is of a type that performs non-contact measurement. This allows a fast and reliable position control with direct dependence on how the surface of the sample may vary in appearance and location. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the position determining means is arranged on the analysis unit. This allows the relative position between the unit of analysis and position measuring body to be fixed and it does not need to be computed separately. The device preferably also includes a housing, and inside the housing, the design with the combination of a first movement path of receiver with its sample and a second and third movement path of the analysis unit creates a space which can contain auxiliary device equipment such as a climate control unit, controlling the climate inside the housing and also the control unit and other supply aggregates like power or cooling means, for example, which do not interfere with either the movable analyzer unit or the moving receiver. The device can also be designed to receive multiple, longer samples, that are arranged essentially in parallel and equidistant to each other on the receiver, the samples being located mainly along the Y-direction. In this respect, it is advantageous to arrange the control unit so that when changing the sample for scanning, the control unit is arranged to move the receiver at predetermined steps in the X-direction, whereby one step essentially corresponds to the spacing between two samples located on the receiver. This will speed up the process and minimize the flow of position data for the control unit. The device according to the invention is preferably equipped with a data storing unit for storing the scanned data output from the analysis unit and corresponding position coordinates for the analysis unit and the receiver with its sample respectively. These are valuable documentation for future follow up of the samples and exploration. In addition hereto, the device can be equipped with a marking equipment, which is set up to mark the points on the scanned sample corresponding to the position coordinates stored in the data storing unit. This provides a further valuable addition to the data that have been scanned. In order to optimize the scanning process, the sample receiver is arranged with internal guiding means for accurate orienting of the sample. This assists in having an automated, well-documented and permanently secured analysis of cores and cuttings, already in the field, without involving external personnel.

WO 2011/146014 PCT/SE2011/050637 5 The invention also includes a method for analysis of samples extracted during the exploration of natural resources, such as, ore, oil and gas using an analysis device comprising a receiver for one or more samples and an analysis unit for scanning of the sample or samples, following a scanning path, including method steps that at least one sample is placed on the receiver, the analysis unit scans the sample or samples while the analysis unit and the receiver with the sample or samples move relative to each other. The invention method also comprises the following steps. The relative position between the analysis unit and the sample or samples on the receiver is determined by a position determining means, and the scanning position determining means generates an output position signal defining a ridge position path corresponding to a ridge on the sample surface. The ridge position path signal is fed to the control unit. The relative motion between the receiver with the sample or samples and analysis unit are guided by positioning units controlled by the control unit so that the scanning path is following the ridge path. With this method, quality-assured measurements that form the basis for the evaluation of potentially valuable deposits at the drill site are obtained. Summary of the drawin-gs. The invention will hereinafter be further described and explained in connection with embodiments shown in the attached drawings, wherein Fig. 1 schematically shows a device according to the present invention; Fig. 2 shows the overview of the principle of scanning in the device according to the present invention, Fig. 3 shows a principle for the measurement of multiple cores in a series, Fig. 4 schematically shows a position scanning in order to find an optimal, ridge scanning position, Fig. 5 shows some examples of how a receiver of multiple cores can be arranged in order to with a good accuracy guide the cores to an optimal orientation relative to the receiver and Fig. 6 shows a more detailed example of a device according to the present invention.

WO 2011/146014 PCT/SE2011/050637 6 Description of embodiments. From figure 1 it is understood that a device according to the invention includes a first housing 1 that contains all the essential components comprised in the device. The housing 1 is in the figure only schematically shown with four walls but is arranged in such a way, that it meets certain requirements as listed below. The first housing 1 has a supporting structure, a lattice or framework (not shown in the figure) which is set up to carry the components housed in the housing. The entire device is designed as a mobile unit, possible to transport to a drilling location in order to perform analytical work in the field. The device further comprises of a receiver, a platform 2, which is intended to receive a box 3 which is storing drill samples, drill cores or cuttings (not shown). The showed box has several parallel compartments for receiving drill samples. The platform 2 is in turn arranged on linear guides 4, which control the displacement of the platform in a one-dimensional direction, the X-axis. For this purpose, the platform is interacting with a first positioning unit of a known type, described in detail further down. The first positioning unit is electrically controlled and can be operated forward or backward with respect to its displacement output. The first positioning unit is equipped with a first position sensor with respect to its platform displacement position state. The first positioning unit is thus arranged to displace the platform 2 in desired directions during scanning to desired positions on the guides by an output from a control unit (not shown), which is arranged to receive an output from the first position sensor. As shown in the figure 1, and in normal use, an analysis unit 5 is positioned above the receiver 2, the analysis unit comprising a schematically shown scanner 6, preferably by XRF type, for evaluation of properties of the drill samples. The scanning analysis unit 5 and thus the scanner 6 is arranged so that the scanning takes place in the Y-axis direction, i.e. substantially perpendicular to the displacement direction of platform 2, with the help of a second positioning unit 7, which in the figure is shown with a toothed rack 8 and rack-wheel 9 combination, whereby the rack-wheel 9 is arranged on a shaft of a servo motor drive of known type (not shown), which is included in the second positioning unit. The analysis unit 6 is displaced along a guide 10.

WO 2011/146014 PCT/SE2011/050637 7 The analysis unit 5 also contains a third positioning unit of a known type, comprising a third position sensor (not shown) for displacement of the analysis unit 5 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the directions X and Y, i.e. in the Z direction, i.e. up or down in the figure. The third positioning unit is controlled by the control unit which also receives position data as an output from the second and third position sensor. In order to secure an optimal distance and position between the analysis unit 5 and the sample and and optimal scanning path, a position determining means for non-contact measuring of the distance has been arranged on the analysis unit 5. During the analysis scanning procedure, an output is generated from the position determining means in the form of a ridge path signal, derived from scanning the surface of the sample and simultaneously evaluating a path following the points along the sample that rises highest towards the analysis unit 5. The distance measurement means will be elaborated further later in this description. In the control unit, which is controlling the positioning units, from the input generated by the position sensors and from the position determining device, an optimal scanning position can be calculated and accomplished between the scanning unit 5 and the sample. Figure 2 shows, cleared from surrounding components, with three arrows pairs, how the analysis unit 5, comprising the scanner 6, is moving mainly in three orthogonal directions relative the platform 2, holding the box 3, intended for drill core samples. Figure 3 shows a schematic of a box 3 comprising three compartments 11 a-d for one drill core sample each, 12-a-d. Above the rightmost drill core 12d in the figure, the analysis unit 5 is shown including the scanner 6. Next to the analysis unit 5, a position determining means 13 is mounted for measurement of the distance to and topography of the surface to be scanned. The movement of a measuring beam is hinted. The position determining means could for example be of the type marketed by LM13D under the name Optocator or Gocator. A non-contact triangulation method can be used. From the figure it can be seen that the analysis unit has not found its optimal position. In this case the box 3 on the receiver (not shown) will be moved to the left so that the measuring beam finds the top point (i.e. the ridge) of the sample and then the scanning process can take place, the scanning path following the ridge path.

WO 2011/146014 PCT/SE2011/050637 8 It is important for the result of the analysis that the scanning device always maintains an optimal and well determined distance and position relative to the sample, the drill core. This is achieved by the invention in the way that the control unit (not shown) interacts with the position determining means 13 and the positioning units, thus changing the position of the platform in the X-direction as well as the position of the scanning unit in Y- and Z-direction so that the position of the analysis unit 5 becomes optimal for scanning of the sample, a drill core, with the scanner 6. Figure 4 illustrate the slope or scanning movement of the optical measuring point 14 of the position determining means during a movement in the X-direction of the platform with boxed drill samples 16, which moves in the X-direction, forming a dotted path of measurements along the mantle surface of the round cores, displayed in the figure. When in the scanning process, the position determining means generates an output signal which gives the coordinates for the position relative to the analysis unit 5 of the highest point 14 of the sample all along the sample. By appropriate programming of the control unit, based on measurements from the position determining means, the positioning units can be controlled so that the receiver i.e. the platform 2 with the cores 16 can hold such a position relative to the position of the analysis unit 5, that the measurement spot or point 14 of the scanner 6 is continuously focused on the highest point of the sample, i.e. the point on the sample top surface being closest to the scanner, i.e. on the sample ridge path. Then the control unit makes the analysis unit 5 move, during scanning, either continuously or sampled, in the Y-direction. The scanning path will thus coincide with the sample ridge path. Simultaneously, the distance in Z-direction is optimized for best scanning sensitivity for the scanner 6 through control of the third positioning unit throughout the scanning process. It should be noted that all positioning units are reversible, i.e. can regulate the position of the receiver or analysis unit backwards or forwards on demand of the control unit. Thus, during movement in the Y-axis, the distance to the drill core is continuously measured and the control unit is arranged to continuously control the third positioning unit in the Z-direction, so that an optimal distance between the scanner 6 and the drill sample can be maintained, even though the position of the drill core in the box, or the shape of the drill core cause differences in the height profile or ridge path curve along the drill core.

WO 2011/146014 PCT/SE2011/050637 9 In short, the scanning process or scanning method according to the invention can be described like the following: Determining the relative position between the analysis unit and the sample or samples on the receiver by a position determining means, the scanning position determining means generating an output position signal defining a ridge position path corresponding to a ridge on the sample surface, feeding the ridge position path signal is fed to the control unit, As a result of the above, the relative motion between the receiver with the sample or samples and analysis unit can be guided by positioning units controlled by the control unit so that the scanning path is following the ridge path. The control unit is programmed in such a way that, during movement of the receiver in the X direction for shifting of samples to be scanned, it can, from the output of the position determining device, recognize the passage of a wall 15 in a compartment of box 3 and distinguish this from a top point of a drill core. This means that the control unit can be programmed to make quick shifts in the X-direction movement of the receiver when shifting samples placed in a walled box on the receiver. Hence, after a complete scanning of a drill core along its total length, the analysis unit 5 is moved back to its starting position, and a receiver movement in the X-direction is performed, during position measuring, across a compartment wall until the next top point of a drill core in the parallel compartment is reached, followed by a repeated analysis scanning procedure and so on. During such a more extensive movement in the X-direction, e.g. a movement between a box compartments, it is appropriate that the scanning unit is brought to a safe distance relative the drill core and the walls of the compartments in order to avoid fatal collisions. The control unit can also be set up so that when scanning several essentially geometrically identical drill cores, located in parallel in guiding compartments in a box, the receiver can be moved by steps according to a roughly known (equi-)distance between neighbor samples, independent of the output from the position determining means, in order to quickly set the platform and the box at positions approximately where the highest point / ridge curve of the drill core is situated. Then a fine tuning of the optimal ridge position for the measuring point using the distance measurement is continued. In Figure 5, four variants of the interior of a box for cores 4 are schematically shown. The purpose of the interiors is that the cores should wherever possible be held in a pre determined well-established position, in the coordinate system XYZ. It thus becomes possible to quickly find the optimal position of the scanner 6 relative the respective drill core.

WO 2011/146014 PCT/SE2011/050637 10 In compartment A, the bottom of the box is set up with an upwardly turned, V-shaped surface 17 that centers the drill core in the tray. In compartment B, the sides of the compartment are comprised by a couple of centering blocks 18, which can be soft for optimum centering tolerance. In compartment C the wall of one side is provided with a spring 19 and a biased plate 20 which positions the drill core against the opposite side wall 21 of the compartment, and in the indicated compartment marked D a malleable medium 22 which may consist of e.g. sand or a piece of foam material or the like is placed in the bottom of the compartment. In Figure 6, an embodiment of a second example of a device according to the present invention is shown without covering walls. In the following description referrals will be made to "up" and "down", which means the equivalent in the figure and also in the device normal operating mode. The device includes a lattice with a base frame 24, side supports 25 and a top frame 26. In the volume that the lattice defines, a substantially U-shaped beam 27 is located which is displayed in the upper part of the lattice with the opening oriented downwards. The side of the beam has flanges pointing inwards at the bottom edge, one of which 23 is designed with cog-teeth on top. In the U-beam 27, the upper part of an analysis unit 28 is installed. The analysis unit 28 is equipped with wheels (not shown) on either side, of which at least one is a gear wheel that is adapted to the cog-teeth of the beam 27 and interacts with those, while the other wheels can roll on top of the opposite U-beam flange. With the help of the gear and a fourth positioning unit (not shown) and the other wheels, the analysis unit 28, controlled by a control unit, can be moved along the U-beam in a longitudinal direction i.e. a Y-direction within the lattice. The analysis unit 28 includes a second housing 31 which via a bracket 29 is attached to a tower 30. Within the tower a fifth positioning unit (not visible) is located with a vertically organized displacement means enabling linear motion back and forth, i.e. up and down. A console 29 is arranged at this displacement means, and therefore the second housing 31 can, under influence from the control unit, shift the tower up and down, in the Z-direction within the lattice. From the second housing 31 of the analysis unit 28, an X-ray feeding tube 32 extends downwards towards a box 33, the feeding tube being intended for feeding X-rays from an X-ray source (not shown) against drill core samples (not shown) to be scanned. The energy of the X-rays fed from the feeding tube is then absorbed by the samples and generates in turn secondary rays emanating from the samples, which secondary rays contain information on interesting properties of the sample. In order to detect and collect the information from the reflected radiation from the drill core samples, a detector 34 is arranged at the scanning device by two braces 35 extending from the second housing 31. The device WO 2011/146014 PCT/SE2011/050637 11 also comprises a platform 37 on which the box 33 with compartments 36 for samples is located. Together with the analysis unit 28, a non-contact position determining means (not visible) is arranged. The position determining means are arranged to measure the distance from the analysis unit 28 down to the samples and also the position of their ridge path relative to the analysis unit. The position determining means feeds a position output signal to the control unit so that the control unit with the aid of a fifth positioning unit, arranged in the tower 30, and all the other positioning units can find the optimal relative position of the analysis unit relative to the measured object, i.e. the drill core samples, in accordance with what have been described above. The optimum distance is determined by the range and features of the X-ray feeder and of the detector 34. The box 33 is positioned on top of a platform 37 (visible under the box 33), which is provided with a maneuver handle 38 at the left end in the figure. With the handle, the platform with a loaded box 33 holding drill core samples (not shown), can be either pulled or pushed through a door 39 from or into a scanning position. For this reason, the platform is adjustable in a sliding motion in the Y-direction on slides 40, 41 and 42. The slides 40 and 42 are in turn freely arranged on first guides 43, while the slide 41 is provided with a threaded opening, which is arranged to interact with a rotatable, threaded rod 44, stretching through the opening. The rod 44 is connected to a sixth positioning unit 44a which is controlled by the control unit to move the slide 41 and thus the platform 37, resting on the guides 40-42, back or forth in one direction perpendicular to the direction of the U-beam 27, i.e. in the direction of the X-axis, by rotation of the rod 44 in either direction. The sixth positioning unit also comprises a position sensor. The figure also shows that the device includes a cabinet 45, which includes space for the control unit and a data storing unit. It also includes a climate control system, symbolically shown with a ventilation unit 46. The figure shows that the cabinet 45 and the ventilation unit 46 are located so that the platform 37 with the box 33 containing the drill samples are partially located and moving freely under the cabinet and the air conditioner, while the scanning unit 28 in its movement along the U-beam 27 is arranged to pass freely alongside the cabinet 45 for scanning in the Y-direction along the entire length of the samples in the box 33. The platform 37 with the box 33 is movable in the X-direction so that the scanner unit 28 by stepwise displacement of the platform 37 can perform repeated movements in the Y-axis, WO 2011/146014 PCT/SE2011/050637 12 keeping under control the coincidence of the scanning point path with the ridge path of the actual sample, and thereby scan all the drill core samples, contained in the compartments of the box. At the left hand side in the figure, a connection 47 is schematically shown that is used for e.g. electricity, heat, cold and telemetry in- and output. With the device components arranged according to the above in detail described example, the space in the housing is utilized in an optimal way and the structure according to the invention can be constructed so versatile that it can easily can be transported out into the field of work, i.e. a drilling site, in order to provide the desired automatic analysis. The device is in other words mobile. Typical dimensions of a device according to the invention can be about 2x1x1 meters. The results of the analysis are stored in a secure database in the data storage unit, which preferably is arranged to be accessed only by an authorized person. The data stored includes the analysis results from the analysis unit, including found traces of elements and compounds, the position coordinates of the corresponding scanning points on data concerning the drill core sample. The position data is given by the position sensors that interact with the positioning units. A high accuracy of the placement of the box 3 on the platform 2 and a well-defined position of the drill cores in their respective compartments helps. The housing of the device according to the invention is set up to protect against weather and is provided with additional ancillary devices (not shown) that in a known way, can regulate climate and environment in the housing. This is to ensure that the equipment works in the best way. The device according to the invention also can include a marking device (not shown) which is set up to monitor the scanner and to during or after a scanning procedure produce marks on the samples, e.g. by a colored curve or equivalent position marks along or at the ridge path equivalent to the position data stored in the data storing unit that the scanner has followed during the analysis. The marking device can also be such that it can be used to apply an identity tag to the drill core and / or box containing the drill samples. This provides very usable, complementary information to the results in the data stored.

WO 2011/146014 PCT/SE2011/050637 13 The invention is not limited to the above described and on the drawings shown embodiments. The general construction of the device can be varied in a number of ways, evident to the skilled man. E.g. the device can be set up so that the platform can receive more than one box at a time. It is also possible to analyze the drill cuttings besides drill cores. Cuttings are placed in appropriate boxes with the corresponding compartment for conception of drill cuttings in the order in which they are extracted from the borehole. The receiver or platform does not need to be of a solid kind, i.e. does not have to cover the whole area under the box, but could be a framework that in a well-defined way receives a box with the drill samples in a stable manner. The position of the measuring point / measuring line can also be obtained by position sensors, which are established to detect the relative position between the analysis unit and the samples without interacting with the positioning units. The operating directions X, Y and Z do not necessarily need to be mainly orthogonal, although the position calculation process is easier this way. The device and method is not limited to the earth surface but can also be used in underground mines. The scanner may for other purposes be of another type than XRF, e.g. a laser scanner. It is also conceivable that the scanner unit when finished scanning one sample does not have to return to its original position but could scan the next core in the other direction. This will be taken into account when storing the data. The position measuring means can be of other types, e.g. of a wide laser type, ultrasound or radar type. It should also be noted, that in the widest sense, the term "analysis unit" should be interpreted as including the components that are associated with the complete unit which is movable in the Y- and Z-direction, e.g. including the scanner, the X-ray source, the X-ray feeding tube, the detector, the position determining means and positioning units with their sensors.

Claims

1. Device for prospecting analysis along samples (12, 16), such as cores or cuttings, extracted during the exploration of natural resources such as ore, oil and gas, which device includes a supporting structure (24, 25, 26), a receiver (2, 38) for at least one sample (12a-d) and an analysis unit (5, 28) arranged to follow a scanning path along the sample and to produce a scanned data output, and where the analysis unit and the receiver of the sample are movably arranged relative to each other within the supporting structure, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the receiver of the sample is movably arranged relative to the support structure by means of a first positioning unit (44) for movement in a first direction, X direction, that the analysis unit is movably arranged relative to the support structure by means of a second (7) and a third positioning unit for moving the analysis unit in a second and a third direction, Y- and Z- direction, and where the positioning units are controlled by a control unit, that the device further comprises a position determining means (13) arranged for determining the position of a ridge path of the sample (12a-d) during the analysis scanning and generating a corresponding ridge path signal, and that the relative position between the analysis unit (5, 28) and the sample (12a-d) is controlled by means of the control unit in dependence of the ridge path signal, so that a coincidence of the scanning path and the sample ridge path (14) is continuously established and maintained during the analysis scanning process.

2. Device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e o f, that the position determining means is of a type that perform non-contact measurement.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e o f, that the position determining means is arranged on the movable analysis unit (5, 28).

4. Device according to any of the foregoing claims, whereby the device components are enclosed in a first housing (1), c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e o f, that the device inside the first housing, alongside a movement path of the analysis unit and a path defined by an operating range of the receiver with its sample is provided with a space (45) which is holding device components such as the control unit and a climate control unit (46).

5. Device according to any of the foregoing claims, where the receiver carries multiple samples (12a-d) that are arranged essentially in parallel and equidistant to each other on the receiver (2.37), the samples being located mainly along the Y-direction, WO 2011/146014 PCT/SE2011/050637 15 c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e o f, that the control unit is arranged to move the receiver (2, 38) at predetermined steps in the X-direction when changing the samples for scanning, whereby one step essentially corresponds to the spacing between two samples located on the receiver.

6. Device according to any of the foregoing claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e o f, that the device is equipped with a data storing unit for storing the scanned data output from the analysis unit and corresponding position coordinates for the analysis unit and the receiver with its sample respectively.

7. Device according to claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e o f, that the device is equipped with a marking equipment, which is set up to mark the points on the scanned sample corresponding to the position coordinates stored in the data storing unit.

8. Device according to any of the foregoing claims c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e o f, that the receiver (2, 38) is arranged with guiding means for accurate orienting of the sample.

9. Method for analysis of samples extracted during the exploration of natural resources, such as, ore, oil and gas, with an analysis device comprising a control unit, a receiver for one or more samples and an analysis unit for scanning of the sample or samples, following a scanning path, including the method steps - placing at least one sample on the receiver - scanning the sample or samples by the analysis unit while the analysis unit and the receiver with the sample or samples move relative to each other c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e o f, that the method further comprises the steps - determining the relative position between the analysis unit and the sample or samples on the receiver by a position determining means, - generating an output position signal defining a ridge position path corresponding to a ridge on the sample surface by the scanning position determining means, - feeding the ridge position path signal to the control unit, - guiding the receiver with the sample or samples and analysis unit by positioning units controlled by the control unit so that the scanning path is following the ridge path.