Automated petrography analysis by QEMSCAN® of a garnet-staurolite schist of the San Lorenzo formation, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta massif

Abstract

Automated petrographic analysis integrates scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy hardware with expert soware to generate micron-scale compositional maps of rocks. While automated petrography solutions such as QEMSCAN® are widely used in the mining, mineral processing, and petroleum industries to characterize ore deposits and subsurface rock formations, it has not been used in metamorphic petrology. is study applies automated petrographic analysis using QEMSCAN® to a garnet-staurolite schist of the San Lorenzo Formation, Sevilla geological province (Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta massif), and demonstrates that this analytical technique has clear potential application in petrologic studies.