As our roots are deep in basic geological research, our employees, methods and equipment represent the best possible expertise in the high quality chemical analysis required in geological scientific research (geochemistry, petrology).
Our methods provide extensive coverage of both traditional analysis of major elements and demanding analysis of trace elements, including rare earth metals and the platinum group metals.
Labtium can provide a wide range of services for mining requirements. In addition to the preparation and analyses of exploration and grade control samples, we analyse process samples from different stages of the ore processing including independent party and umpire analysis.
Furthermore, we can design and implement laboratory services for mines with the mining company serving as the operator or outsourcing all of the services from us, either on-site or through our comprehensive laboratory network (Espoo, Kuopio, Outokumpu, Rovaniemi, Sodankylä). Labtium has experience of these operations. We have provided the Pahtavaara goldmine (Terra Mining Oy and Scan Mining Oy) with full laboratory services through our Sodankylä location. Likewise, our Outokumpu laboratory provides the chemical analysis services of GTK’s Mineral Processing Laboratory on the customer’s own premises. We have also participated in laboratory design in both Finland and abroad.
Labtium is a leading independent and accredited European laboratory that can provide a service chain that measures up to international quality requirements and reporting practices in ore exploration, including sample preparation, analysis, quality assurance and reporting. Our range of methods is comprehensive, including almost all best practice analysis methods. Our diverse sample preparation equipment enables us to greatly customise our services in accordance with the customer’s needs, the strategic project phase and the characteristics of the ore. Using the same laboratory over the entire service chain makes it possible to avoid complicated outsourcing arrangements and having to assure the quality of numerous service providers and deal with possible audits. Furthermore, this also simplifies the implementation of the chain of custody as a whole.
Our goal for routine analysis is rapid delivery using the most suitable methods for each project.
The materials and process industries have made the leap from the optimisation of energy efficiency to the optimisation of materials as well. The definition of materials is changing, as virgin raw materials are increasingly being replaced with industrial by-products, wastes, surplus earth and aggregate. That said, the changing definition of what constitutes waste has caused problems of interpretation for years. Useable materials have been classified as wastes, hindering their utilisation.
New technologies that innovatively exploit the characteristics of elements and compounds are also emerging. Nanotechnology and biotechnology are two such fields. Both of them often examine the characteristics of materials in existing applications.
Water supply and sewerage in Finland is a utility service regulated by decrees on the quality requirements of domestic water and monitoring studies, which are based on EU directives, as well as the Environmental Protection Decree and the Water Services Act. The Groundwater Directive (2006/118/EC) that came into force in 2006 emphasises preventative measures against the pollution and deterioration of groundwater and the wider monitoring of groundwater quality at locations such as water pumping stations. The European Acceptance Scheme that is currently under preparation and is estimated to come into force in 2010 also concerns water supply, setting requirements for products that are in contact with drinking water, such as pipes and components.
The Environmental Protection Act that came into force in 2000 is a general act on environmental pollution. The Act specifies that an environmental permit must be obtained for any operations that pose a threat of pollution. Companies have obtained or are in the process of obtaining their new environmental permits pursuant to the Act. Labtium offers a wide range of solutions for fulfilling permit requirements with respect to monitoring the state of the environment and emissions. We draft plans on the best means of implementation in association with the customer. During implementation, we draw on our expert co-operation network, enabling us to offer a certified chain from sampling to reporting. We also provide on-line or on-site monitoring options. We are also active in the standardisation of methods in the field, and participate in national and international comparison measurements by providing environmental samples.
Our services cover:
The Environmental Protection Act that came into force in 2000 is a general act on environmental pollution. The Act specifies that an environmental permit must be obtained for any operations that pose a threat of pollution. Numerous decrees have entered into force on the basis of the Act – among them, decrees on municipal wastewater, air quality, waste utilisation, landfill suitability, and substances that are hazardous and harmful to the water environment. Certain decrees that have an essential bearing on analysis activities are still under preparation.