The tender is being conducted on a multi-lot basis for the following lots:

1. Multiparameter scanner for measuring a range of basic physical properties.

2. High-resolution XRF scanner for determining element concentrations at high spatial resolution and with low detection limits.

3. High-throughput XRF scanner for determining element concentrations when several metre length sticks of core can be loaded.

4. One hand held XRF scanner, with option for a second.

5. X-RAY CT for 2 and 3D imaging of the core to visualise internal structural details.

6. CT visualisation software.

This lot is for a non-destructive core scanner to measure consistent and accurate physical properties, which produces digital outputs that are consistent and comparable to industry standard wireline geophysical logging tools. The scanner system will operate by moving the core and an array of physical property sensors relative to each other, in increments in the range 10 — 100 mm down core, and ideally down to 1 mm.

The core scanner must have the ability to collect data at multiple scales down core, relative to a fixed datum, to facilitate high resolution work as well as a generic reconnaissance scanning of the core held by BGS. The scanner will be expected to scan whole round drill core as well as soils and soft sediment inside liners. Minimum disturbance of the core is preferable, so scanners that do not require smooth surfaces (i.e. slabbed core) are strongly preferable.

This lot is for a non-destructive core scanner to provide safe, rapid, high resolution, non-destructive, semi-quantitative, reproducible, elemental geochemical analysis for geological/earth science applications. The scanner system will operate by moving the core and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) sensor relative to each other, and will detect down-core elemental variations, as a minimum in the range Al (13) to U (92).

The core scanner must have the ability to collect data at multiple scales down-core relative to a fixed datum to facilitate high resolution work at a resolution of 0.1 mm upwards. The scanner will be expected to scan slabbed and whole round drill core (including fractured cores) as well as soils and soft sediments. Cores will be routinely analysed in a ‘load and go’ manner. The scanner must also be capable of operation in a rapid reconnaissance mode.

This lot is for a non-destructive core scanner to provide safe, rapid, non-destructive, semi-quantitative, reproducible, elemental geochemical analysis for geological/earth science applications. The scanner system will be able accommodate at least five one metre sticks of 10 cm diameter core at once, and will probably operate by moving the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry equipment relative to the core. It will detect down-core elemental variations, as a minimum in the range Al (13) to U (92). The scanner will be expected to scan slabbed and whole round drill core as well as soils and soft sediment.

This lot is for one (with option for two) non-destructive hand held x-ray fluorescence spectrometers to provide safe, rapid, non-destructive, semi-quantitative, reproducible, elemental geochemical analysis for geological/earth science applications. It will detect elemental variations, as a minimum in the range Al (13) to U (92).

The spectrometers will be expected to measure slabbed and whole round drill core as well as soils and soft sediment and other samples, including in the field. They must also be supplied with stands and associated equipment to allow safe operation several metres from the operative.

This requirement is for a CT core scanner to be installed at the National Geological Repository at the British Geological Survey Keyworth site. The scanner will be used to underpin a variety of commercial and non-commercial work carried out by BGS including:

— Fracture Characterisation prior to sampling — This will allow BGS to maximise the success of any sampling and help to ensure as complete a record of the core as possible is preserved.

— Micro-damage characterisation — Mapping fractures and fracture development before, during, and after, deformation/flow testing as part of developing geophysical-geotechnical inter-property relationships.

— Quantifying heterogeneity and providing additional context for sub sampling.

— Mapping of digenetic structures and soft sediment deformation — For example to identify compaction bands for research on sedimentary rocks.

— Mapping micro-cracking relating to wetting/drying cycles at field-laboratory sites as well as on labsamples.

The core scanner will be required to accept samples of a variety of lengths and diameters, but must include lengths of 5 — 105 cm and achieve a minimum resolution of 100 microns. The scanning process must not damage or disturb the core. The CT scanner will be sited in an operational core lab with other core scanners, hence the scanner must be fully shielded and self-contained.

Basic viewing software must be provided with the CT scanner, more advanced software for fracture mapping is included in this tender as a separate lot.

To maximise the value of an X-ray CT core scanner (Lot 5) an additional image processing software package is essential. The X-ray CT scanner will be used in many lines of work across BGS, including work such as basic rock characterisation, fracture characterisation and micro-damage characterisation.

The ability to process the basic images produced by the X-ray CT will be very useful to visualise any material properties the core may have, e.g. density variations and fracture patterns. The software must work using the 2D and 3D image files generated by an X-Ray CT core scanning machine. The format of these files is likely to be TIFF/BITMAPS and other popular CT formats.

The most basic requirements of the software are:

— To clearly visualise the X-ray CT files in 2 and 3 dimensions,

— Image visualisation and processing tools, e.g. smoothing and filtering,

— Output file as meshes, point clouds or CAD models .

There are also further requirements for this software, which will increase the scientific outputs of the X-ray CT scanner by a large amount. These additional requirements are:

— Ability to calculate material properties, e.g. elastic properties,

— Ability to calculate fluid properties, e.g. porosity and permeability.

This software is expected to be used across several teams at the British Geological Survey; it must therefore be simple to use, with a good user interface enabling many staff to use the software with little training.

Minimum and recommended computer hardware specifications are also required.