Chemical Laboratory, MECL is a well-equipped and versatile mineral testing lab, supporting the company mineral exploration endeavors. It provides comprehensive analytical services for a wide range of mineral and coal samples generated from different exploration projects.

Introduction:
• MECL is located at Seminary Hills, Nagpur in the state of Maharashtra, India. was established as an autonomous Public Sector Company in October 1972, under the administrative control of Ministry of Mines, Government of India for systematic exploration of minerals, to bridge the gap between the initial discovery of a prospect and its eventual exploitation.
• MECL has the Mission "to provide high quality, cost effective and time bound geo- scientific services for exploration and exploitation of minerals".
• Chemical Laboratory part of MECL is a well-equipped Ultra-Modern Laboratory having compete facility of Sample preparation & Geochemical Analysis.

What we do:
1. Sample Received: The lab receives a wide range of mineral and coal samples from MECL exploration projects and external clients.
2. Analytical Testing: State-of-the-art instrumentation and skilled technicians perform comprehensive analytical tests to generate precise data.
3. Reporting: The lab produces detailed analytical reports, which are then shared with the Exploration division and other stakeholders.

Facilities at Chemical Lab
Analysis Energy: Coal/ Lignite
Analysis Non- Energy: Iron, Bauxite, Copper, Chromite Ore, Lead, Zinc, Lime Stone, Phosphorus, Manganese, Gold, Silver Ore, Trace Elements, REEs, PGEs and Others
Analysis Others: : Drilling Fluids

MECL has a full fledge sample preparation setup. This setup consists all the modern & automatic units for complete sample preparation activities from drill core splitting to -300 mesh size fine powdering. These include hydraulic core splitter, jaw crusher, vibratory cup mills (VCM), sample divider and automatic sieve shaker units.

1. Proximate Analysis
2. Band by Band Analysis
3. Equilibrated Moisture Testing
4. Hard Grove Grindability Test (HGI)
5. Crucible Swelling Index/ Number
6. Calorific Value Testing (GCV)
7. Ultimate Analysis
8. Total Sulfur & Sulphur Distribution
9. Ash Analysis
10. Ash Fusion Temperature (AFT)

• Chemical Laboratory MECL has a state-of-the-art wet classical laboratory with all the major equipments and apparatus for all type of Non-Energy Minerals.
• Precious Minerals, PGE & REE) testing with International QAQC.

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer:
(Quadrupole ICP-MS) system which is capable of doing elemental analysis accurately & precisely for REE and PGE and trace elements in higher concentration, trace and ultra-trace (ppm, ppb & ppt) levels and isotope ratios in diverse range of matrices. It is used to determine Al, Sb, As, Ba, Be, Bi, B, Cd, Ca, Ce, Cs, Cr, Co, Cu, Dy, Er, Eu, Gd, Ga, Ge, Au, Hf, Ho, In, Ir, Fe, La, Pb, Li, Lu, Mg, Mn, Hg, Mo, Nd, Ni, Nb, Os, Pd, P, Pt, K, Pr, Re, Rh, Rb, Ru, Sm, Sc, Se, Si, Ag, Na, Sr, S, Ta, Te, Tb, Th, Tl, Tm, Sn, Ti, W, U, V, Yb, Y, Zn, Zr elements up to ultra-trace levels.

iCAP RQplus ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer—a highly sensitive and versatile analytical instrument used for multi-element and trace element analysis. Developed by Thermo Fisher Scientific, this particular model is designed to offer enhanced performance, reliability, and ease of use in various applications.

Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer:
This laboratory is equipped with Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) which is capable to determine major, minor and trace elements (different concentrations) in one single run measurement. This instrument can determine - Al, Sb, As, Ba, Be, Bi, B, Cd, Ca, Ce, Cs, Cr, Co, Cu, Dy, Er, Eu, Gd, Ga, Ge, Au, Hf, Ho, In, Ir, Fe, La, Pb, Li, Lu, Mg, Mn, Hg, Mo, Nd, Ni, Nb, Os, Pd, P, Pt, K, Pr, Re, Rh, Rb, Ru, Sm, Sc, Se, Si, Ag, Na, Sr, S, Ta, Te, Tb, Th, Tl, Tm, Sn, Ti, W, U, V, Yb, Y, Zn, Zr elements in mineral samples.

iCAP PRO ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer) by Thermo Fisher Scientific is capable of detecting up to 70+ elements from the periodic table, covering a wide range of metals and some nonmetals.
Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, Co, Cr, Ti, V, Mo, Ag, Cd, Pb, Hg, As, Se, Sb, Ce, La, Nd, Pr, Sm, B, P, S, Si., etc.
Petrochemical & Energy Industry:
• Analyzes trace metals in fuels, lubricants, and petrochemicals.
• Monitors elemental contamination in crude oil and refined products.

Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS):
This laboratory is equipped with Analytik Jena, Germany make Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. In addition to flame, it is also equipped with graphite furnace atomizer. It is used for Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Al, P, W, Ti, Co, Ni, Ag, Ba, Li, Cs, Sr, Cd element determination in mineral samples.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS):
Instruments can detect over 70 elements, including most metals and some metalloids. The specific elements detectable depend on the lamp selection (hollow cathode lamps or electrodeless discharge lamps) and the technique used (flame AAS, graphite furnace AAS, or hydride generation).
Detection Sensitivity
• Flame AAS (FAAS): Best for higher concentration samples (ppm levels).
• Graphite Furnace AAS (GFAAS): Detects ultra-trace levels (ppb range).
• Hydride Generation AAS (HG-AAS): Used for elements like As, Se, and Hg.

Ion Chromatography (IC): is a specialized form of liquid chromatography used to separate and analyze ions and polar molecules in a solution. It is widely applied in chemical analysis, particularly for determining anions and cations in various samples.
Anions: F?, Cl?, Br?, I?, NO3?, NO2?, SO4²?, SO3²?, PO4³?, CO3²?, HCO3?, ClO4?, CN?, SCN? etc.
Cations: Na?, K?, Ca²?, Mg²?, NH4?, Li?, Fe²?, Fe³?, Mn²?, Cu²?, Zn²?, Sr²?, Ba²? etc.
Organic Acids & Special Compounds: HCOO?, CH3COO?, C3H6O3?, C6H5O7³?, C2O4²? etc.

Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence spectrometer:
The WD-XRF system is capable of analyzing major, minor and trace elements in rocks/ores/minerals and geological materials as solid samples (pressed pellets and fusion beads). It is used for all the major oxide radicals in mineral samples.

X-ray Diffractometer (XRD):
This laboratory is equipped with Panalytical, UK make X-ray Diffractometer (XRD). This is used for phase analysis in mineral samples.

Fire Assay setup:
This laboratory is equipped with Full setup of Fire Assaying which is capable of fire assaying of Gold, silver, PGE and other mineral ore samples using "Lead fire assay" and "Nickel sulphide fire assay" methods. The setup is equipped with multi-load and multi-pour accessories to facilitate the loading of all the crucible and couples in batches and also the unloading & pouring in batches for faster assaying.

This laboratory is well equipped with Dring fluid testing apparatus/ instruments. All the major parameters of drilling fluids like Apparent Viscosity (AV), Plastic Viscosity (PV), Yield Point (YP), YP/PV ratio, Sp. Gravity, Sand content, Funnel Viscosity, Filtration Loss, Cake thickness etc. are carried out at this lab.

UV-Visible spectrophotometry is widely used in various scientific and industrial fields for qualitative and quantitative analysis of substances based on their absorption of ultraviolet (UV) and visible (Vis) light.
• Metal Ion Detection – Measures concentrations of Fe, Cu, Mn, Ti, Cr in mineral ores.
• Sulfur & Heavy Metal Analysis in Coal – Determines sulfur content and trace metals.
• Coal Quality Assessment – Evaluates organic and inorganic content in coal samples.

Flame Photometry: is an analytical technique used to determine the concentration of certain metal ions in a sample based on the characteristic wavelengths of light they emit when excited in a flame.
Commonly used for measuring electrolytes such as sodium (Na) and potassium (K) in samples.