CSIRO devise a way to automatically use EDS X-ray technology and a Scanning Electron Microscope to accurately image and identify minerals in ore samples.

The technology becomes patented and is known as QEM*SEM (Quantitative Evaluation of Minerals by Scanning Electron Microscopy).

New digital hardware and improved software developed by CSIRO allows for automated analysis of multiple samples, and the creation of particle images from which mineralogy, texture and metallurgical parameters can be extracted and quantified.

First commercial sale of a QEM*SEM to a mining house (JCI, Anglo American), South Africa.

Light element x-ray detectors are introduced leading to improved mineral identification.

New generation of QEM*SEM developed – QEMSCAN – and first sales go to Rio Tinto, Goldfields, Falconbridge and Mintek.

JKMRC, University of Queensland, develop a new image analysis system, the Mineral Liberation Analyzer (MLA), based on a Philips Electron Optics SEM platform.

First commercial sale of a MLA to Anglo Platinum.

JKMRC begin offering a commercial MLA analysis bureau.

CSIRO announces intention to commercialize QEMSCAN.

Third generation QEMSCAN installed at Phelps Dodge in Arizona – the first direct use in copper operations

 Intellection, a CSIRO spin-off company, is founded to develop, market and sell QEMSCAN technology solutions.

25th sale of QEMSCAN sold to Anglo Platinum – their 5th system.

 QEMSCAN’s iExplorer v1 released – need logos of software products.

Camborne School of Mines becomes first University to invest in a QEMSCAN.

New QEM*SEM hardware released.

First MLA installed in China - Jinchuan.

First QEMSCAN installed at a mine site in South America – Cerro Verde, Peru.

JKTech (commercial arm of JKMRC) and FEI form a strategic alliance to develop, market and sell MLA.

First international meeting to focus on automated mineralogy technologies and applications is held in Brisbane -Automated Mineralogy ‘06, co-organized by MEI and Intellection.

LN2-free EDS detectors are introduced on QEMSCAN and MLA systems.

MLA celebrates 10 years of development

SGS and Intellection form a strategic Global Alliance, and Intellection sells its mining bureau business interests to SGS.

 200th iDiscover license sold.

JKTech form a joint venture company, ALS Mineralogy, to provide global MLA analytical service.

ConocoPhillips purchase an MLA.

 Fugro Robertson become the first oil & gas service company to offer in-house QEMSCAN analysis.  

 Colorado School of Mines’ Advanced Mineralogy Research Centre (AMRC) opens.

First sale of a MLA 600F to Anglo Platinum – their 14th MLA installation.

FEI announces acquisition of selected assets from Intellection, including the QEMSCAN technology.

In total, more than 150 QEMSCAN and MLA systems sold worldwide, splitting the market around 50:50 in terms of market share.

FEI announces acquisition of the JKTech MLA business.

QEMSCAN becomes operational on multiple FEI platforms - Quanta 650 and Quanta 650F.

MLA v3 is released.

iDiscover v5 is released.