Procedure for Crushing Rock Samples for Mineral Separates
Materials:
- Ziplock Bag
- Sharpie
- Plain computer paper (several pieces)
- Mesh
- Brush
- Sieve
- Acetone
- Di water
- Kimwipes
- Gloves
- Hammer
Part I: Jawcrusher (small and large)
The jawcrusher is used for fragments of rock that are too large to fit into the shatterbox.
Since it has quick moving parts, do not wear loose clothing while operating and tie
back long hair. Stay away from the moving parts; it is designed to destroy stronger stuff
than any body parts that might get caught.
1. Check to see if sample is small enough to fit into mouth of crusher. If it is too large, go
outside and smash down to size with hammer.
2. Turn on air compressor and let PSI build up. Be sure that valve on bottom is closed.
3. Clean jaw crushers and pan with air hose
4. Place clean pan underneath large crusher to catch crushed rocks
5. Turn on power to the large jaw crusher (large lever) and then crusher (light switch).
Slowly drop rocks into mouth of crusher. You can use another pan to shield yourself from
rocks that may shoot back up.
6. Turn off large jaw crusher (light switch and then large lever)
7. Place coarsely crushed sample in clean vesicle.
8. Check to make sure the pan is underneath small crusher and is clean.
9. Turn on the small jawcrusher with the switch on the front left side.
10. Slowly drop rocks into mouth of crusher. Again, be careful to avoid moving parts.
11. Turn off the crusher with the switch.
12. Remove sample from pan and place in clean coffee bag. Label it. Do not use a large
coffee bag if your sample will fit in a small one. Place sample in other room.
13. Turn off the air compressor.
14. Use remaining pressure to clean the jawcrushers/pans. When you are finished, bleed
off remaining air using the red button.
15. Open valve at bottom of compressor to let water drain.
16. Sweep floor.
Part II: Shatter Box
1. Clean off tables with wet paper towels.
2. If doing a whole rock analysis, separate out that fraction by cone and quartering first.
Place the whole rock fraction in a labeled coffee bag.
3. Label ziplock bag for sieved material. Bring in only 1 sample at a time in order to
avoid contamination.
4. Get out a few pieces (3-4) of computer paper from the drawer next to the shatter box.
5. Sieve crushed sample first to avoid powdering anything that is already the appropriate
size.
6. Use the tungsten carbide shatter box for this procedure (ceramic is for whole rock)
located in the second drawer from the bottom.
7. Pour a fraction of sample on a sheet of paper. Push the puck and ring in the shatter box
to the same edge in order to maximize gaps. Use the paper as a funnel to pour sample in
shatter box. Fill between the puck and ring no more than 1/3rd full. Use brush to clean
off the top of the puck and ring (this material can be brushed into the shatter box).
8. Place the gasket and lid on shatter box and center the shatter box on the shaker.
9. Put clamp on and tighten until the shatterbox lid cannot rotate. You may have to use
the hammer. If the lid moves (watch the stickers) when you turn on the shaker, STOP
IMMEDIATELY and tighten.
11. Set the timer and turn it on. This will start the shaker.
12. Shake for only 3 - 5 seconds then promptly turn off.
14. Remove the shatter box from the shaker. Open the lid and remove puck and ring.
15. Pour the crushed rock onto paper. To remove the sample, tap the shatter box on the
paper, so the rubber gasket touches the paper and not the metal edge, or the paper will rip.
16. Use the paper as a funnel to move sample to the 80 mesh screen. Write sample name
on mesh screen with sharpie neatly in the corner. This documents what other samples
have seen this screen.
Note: only use a new mesh if the old one is damaged.
17. Place sieved sample (the portion small enough to fit through the screen) in labeled
quart sized Ziploc bag. Sandwich sized bags are too thin.
18. Repeat from Step 7, using the portion that did not fit through the screen. Fill the
shatter box to 1/3 full using additional sample. Repeat procedure until sample is
completely crushed.
Part III: Cleaning
1. Blow out the shatter box with compressed air if needed.
2. Rinse everything with regular H2O (tap water), then DI H2O. Wipe down with
Kimwipes.
3. For everything but gasket, use acetone to dry the shatterbox parts with Kimwipes, do
not put acetone on the gasket. Try not to handle the clean parts with dirty hands (use
Kimwipes as a barrier).
4. Place paper towels on the countertop and let the shatter box dry completely before
placing back in drawer.
5. Throw away paper used with the sample and put everything else back where you found
it.
