Saskatchewan Research Council and Hitachi High-Tech Canada Unveil TracePoint Automated Mineral Analysis

The Saskatchewan Research Council launched the TracePoint workflow, a fully automated indicator mineral analysis service, in Saskatoon on November 4, 2026, developed with custom instrumentation from Hitachi High-Tech Canada. EIN Presswire released the announcement.

How the TracePoint Workflow Operates

Indicator mineral analysis examines till samples for mineral grains that can point to valuable commodities in a deposit, helping mining companies decide where to target exploration. SRC said the method had always been manual, with sub-samples prepared by hand and examined under a microscope.

The new circuit includes an automated mineral sample preparation machine and a custom-made dual-beam instrument that combines micro-X-ray fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy. SRC said the preparation machine takes heavy mineral concentrate from a till sample, arranges it into a single layer of grains and encases it in batches of polished resin pucks ready for analysis within a few hours.

"Sample preparation that would have taken even the most skilled technician a full week to complete by hand can now be performed in mere hours by SRC's automated sample preparation machine," SRC President and CEO Mike Crabtree said. He said clients need answers faster to make decisions for next year's drill season or the same season if they are still in the field.

Hitachi High-Tech Canada designed and built the preparation and analysis instruments and supplied data storage and programming capabilities. "By bringing together expertise and innovation from across the Hitachi Group, including advanced automation solutions, analytical technologies, and AI-driven data analysis, we have helped create a world-first automated mineralogy platform that delivers unprecedented efficiency and insight," Hitachi High-Tech Canada President Chad Ostrander said.

Hitachi High-Tech's Instrument Partnerships

According to akta.pro company records, Hitachi High-Tech formed a strategic partnership with Dunia Innovations in April 2026 to build a joint platform combining AI-driven materials discovery with materials characterization. The same records show a May 2026 partnership with Splashtop to modernize Japan's social infrastructure and industrial technology sectors through remote monitoring and OT maintenance solutions.

Earlier Hitachi High-Tech Automation Work

In August 2026, Hitachi High-Tech and Powrex completed a demonstration to optimize coating conditions for cathode active materials used in all-solid-state batteries, using Hitachi's physical AI and informatics technologies, Gurufocus reported. In May 2026, Hitachi High-Tech renewed its PROACCELA brand, integrating AI and informatics to support material development from lab to mass production, Prtimes reported.

Where to Find TracePoint Details

SRC directed readers to its website, www.src.sk.ca, for more information on the TracePoint workflow.