BALL
MILL GRINDING PROCEDURE
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Materials Required:
- Agate Grinding Vessel
- Ball Mill Grinder
- Weighing Paper
- Compressed air
- Plastic Spoon
- Small Brush
- Sediment Sample
- Sharpie
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![Preparation materials; link to larger image](../Images/Grinding/BallMill/Thumbnails/bmprep2.JPG) |
Remove grinding vessel
from the drying oven.
*Do not leave the plastic
spoon in the oven for extended periods of time because it will warp.
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![Griding vessel inside oven; link to larger image](../Images/Grinding/BallMill/Thumbnails/inside2.JPG) |
Assemble the grinding vessel
in this order:
Bottom cap, o-ring, 2 agate
balls, center cylinder.
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![Assembling agate vial ; link to larger image](../Images/Grinding/BallMill/Thumbnails/agate2.jpg) |
Empty the 10 dram poly
vial sample into the agate grinding vessel (approx. 3-5 g).
Add the second o-ring and
top cap.
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![Pouring sediment into vial; link to larger image](../Images/Grinding/BallMill/Thumbnails/samtube2.jpg) |
Place grinding
vessel in the ball mill grinder and screw tightly to hold the vessel in
place. |
![Placing vessel into grinder; link to larger image](../Images/Grinding/BallMill/Thumbnails/tubein2.JPG) |
Start the machine by closing
the door of the ball mill grinder. |
![Close grinder door; link to larger image](../Images/Grinding/BallMill/Thumbnails/grind2.JPG) |
While the sample is being
ground, use compressed air to remove excess sediment left in the original
sample container.
After 5 minutes, remove
vessel from grinder by opening lid and unscrewing the holding mechanism.
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![Spray old sediment out using compressed air; link to larger image](../Images/Grinding/BallMill/Thumbnails/dustof2.JPG) |
Empty the sediment onto
a piece of weighing paper.
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![Empty sediment onto weighing paper; link to larger image](../Images/Grinding/BallMill/Thumbnails/paper2.JPG) |
Use the plastic
spoon to scrape off the sediment adhering to the vessel or use the small
brush. |
![Scrape off adhering sediment; link to larger image](../Images/Grinding/BallMill/Thumbnails/scrape2.JPG) |
Pour the ground sediment
back into the vial and set the grinding vessel aside for acid washing.
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![Pour ground sediment back into vial; link to larger image](../Images/Grinding/BallMill/Thumbnails/pouvial2.JPG) |
Label the vial with a "G"
to denote that it is ground and return sample to box.
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![Label with "G"; link to larger image](../Images/Grinding/BallMill/Thumbnails/Labelg2.JPG) |