I'm not sure whether I have chosen the most appropriate forum for this question, but here it is anyway:
I am looking for a simple but reliable method for identifying / discriminating between a finite number of minerals. The minerals include sand, soda ash, limestone, dolomite and salt cake (sodium sulphate). All the minerals are ground into a powder / granules. The test to identify the minerals only needs to be taken place on an intermittent basis but must not require a specialist or a laboratory environment. I have identified a hand held device using an X-ray technique. However, I can't help thinking that I am missing something obvious, such as using the pH value of the materials? I am an electrical engineer and would therefore, appreciate any advice. Can you help?
I am looking for a simple but reliable method for identifying / discriminating between a finite number of minerals. The minerals include sand, soda ash, limestone, dolomite and salt cake (sodium sulphate). All the minerals are ground into a powder / granules. The test to identify the minerals only needs to be taken place on an intermittent basis but must not require a specialist or a laboratory environment. I have identified a hand held device using an X-ray technique. However, I can't help thinking that I am missing something obvious, such as using the pH value of the materials? I am an electrical engineer and would therefore, appreciate any advice. Can you help?