ROCK PROCESSING LABORATORY (RPL)
Op: P, H, & HP, Geological Survey of India
NH-5P, NIT, Faridabad, Haryana -121001
As per the recommendations of the Term Review Committee of the Central Headquarters, the
availability of the state of the art Rock Processing Laboratory (RPL) functional at Geological Survey of India,
Faridabad since July 2010 is being brought to the notice of all concerned.
Rock samples can be submitted to this laboratory for preparation of good quality standard thin/polished
sections. Uncontaminated pulverization (up to -230 mesh size) of rock samples can also be undertaken in this
laboratory for chemical analyses. A Magnetic Barrier Separator has been installed recently and mineral
separation work can also be carried out for the users.
A brief overview of facilities available at the RPL is given below“Lapro” Rock Saw from Buehler, USA, with 24” diameter diamond blade can make slices from big rock
samples. It can slice bigger rocks, rock cores etc. X-Y direction movement provides better controlled slicing of
rocks.
“Delta PetroCut” Rock cutter from Buehler, USA. Rock cutter with 9” diameter diamond blade can further
make slices from the rock pieces obtained from the Rock Saw. It cuts with millimeter precision in X-Y
direction.
“Disco Plane TS”Grinding and trimming unit from Struers, Denmark. Grinding and trimming unit for thin
section grinding and trimming of rock chips. It has got precision level of 0.01 mm per unit of Grinding Screw.
Fixed with 35µm and 70µm Diamond disc grinding wheels and 6” diameter diamond blade for fine trimming
of rock chips.
“RotoPol 35 & PdM Force-20” Lapping and polishing unit from Struers, Denmark. Lapping and polishing unit
for preparation of high quality thin section. It can do lapping for 8 samples at a time with SiC # 220 and #1000
lapping powders. 4 samples can be polished, at one go, in three different stages, using Diamond Polish (DP)
sprays of 6 micron, 3 micron and 1 micron on a magnetic disc.
“Vacuum Impregnation Equipment I” Vacuum impregnation unit from Buehler, USA. Vacuum impregnation
unit is very useful for preparation of thin sections from weathered/friable rock samples. Epoxy resin and
hardener is mixed in proportion to prepare the bonding liquid.
“Petro Bond” bonding jig from Buehler, USA. Bonding jig for absolute air tight, bubble free thin section
preparation. 12 samples can be bonded at a time with appropriate pressure springs attached with this.
“Dry Box-2” drying unit from Struers, Denmark, dry box for proper drying of samples before preparation of
thin section. 15 samples can be dried at a time and it takes about 10-15 minutes to do the job.
“Jaw Crusher” Rock crushing unit from Retsch, Germany, It can crush maximum 6 inches diameter/6 Cub
inches rock pieces into 1mm size particle at one go(few seconds). It provides feed for the TC carbide vibratory
mill for further crushing/powdering.
“Tungsten Carbide Vibratory Cup Mill” Rock Pulverising unit from Insmart Systems, Hyderabad, India, Rock
Pulveriser fully automated machine for making rock powder up to -230 mesh size from a feed size of half a
centimeter. It takes about 3-4 minutes to pulverize 50 gm of 0.5 cm size hard/fresh rock samples to -170 mesh
size and 5 minutes to pulverize 50 gm of 0.5 cm size hard/fresh rock samples to -230 mesh size.
“Magnetic Barrier Separator” Magnetic/non-magnetic mineral separation equipment from Frantz, USA, Useful
for mineral separation of choice. Widely used in zircon, monazite separation for dating; heavy mineral
separation for diamond exploration, sedimentological studies, environmental studies etc.
BENEFICIARY ORGANISATIONS: The following (outside GSI) organizations have been catered so far,
1. M/s H.C.C. Mumbai
2. M/s. NHPC Ltd,
3. M/s. WAPCOS Project (Salma Dam), Afghanistan
4. M/s ATES, New Delhi
5. M/s Energy Infotech Pvt. Ltd, Gurgaon
6. M/s CSMRS, New Delhi
7. M/s. Star Wire Pvt. Ltd, Ballabgarh, Haryana
8. M/s R.K. Engineering, Roorkee
9. M/s HPPCL, New Delhi
10. M/s Indrasagar, Andhra Pradesh
11. M/s Global Earth Resource Services, Jaipur
12. M/s CWC, Sikkim
SCHEDULE OF CHARGES:
Sl. No.
Job Details
Cost per unit in *Rs.
(Service Tax extra)
1
Preparation of standard thin
section of rock
495
2
Preparation of polished thin
section of rock
606
Preparation of un-mounted
508
polished thin section of rock
* The above mentioned charges are based on the scheduled rates published by Petrology Division, GSI in April
2005 with a 10% escalation every year. Further revision of cost is under consideration.
3
Samples may be sent to the laboratory with the prior permission of the Dy. Director General ( P, H & HP), GSI,
Plot No. 3, Dakshin Marg, Sector 33B, Chandigarh-160020 in the format given below.
Rock Processing Laboratory (RPL)
Op: P, H & HP, Geological Survey of India, NH-5P, NIT, Faridabad-121001
Job Card
Sender's Name (Capital letters):… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
Purpose (*): Thin section
Polish section
Pulverizing ($)
Heavy/Magnetic mineral separation ($)
No. of Samples:… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
Type of Samples (* *):
Rock chips
Mineral/Ore chips
Whole rock
Rock powder
Location of samples: (Please attach list with rock types) … … … … … … … … … ……….
Remarks:… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …..
Date:
Signature of the officer (with full address)
*Please tick the required job
**Please attach separate list for each type with specifications (if any)
$At present these services are available for GSI use only.
JOB CARD SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED WITH APPLICATION THROUGH PROPER CHANNEL
………………………………………………………………………………………
For office use only
Job No:
Date received:
Expected date of delivery:
Job assigned to:
Remarks:
Register Ref:
Signature of the Officer-in-Charge (RPL)