From the 3rd to the 7th of August 2026, Spectral Industries visited the SO.RI.COM mines in Bulqizë, Albania and conducted an in-field Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) campaign at the site.
The campaign consisted of measurements with a mobile LIBS system measuring six areas of interest that were identified to have elevated chromium (Cr) and iron (Fe) concentrations based on earlier research campaigns at the site. The Bulqizë mines are one of the most important chromium resources on the European continent. The main goal of the campaign is to collect surface data to support in the validation and refinement of Fe and Cr models, improvement of existing geological models, spatial mapping of elemental distributions and further optimization of the drilling strategy at the SO.RI.COM mines.
Before the start of field operations, the Spectral Industries team delivered a short laser safety and system operation training to relevant personnel. Following this preparation, the field campaign was executed over a period of four consecutive days.
The collected LIBS data was correlated with GPS data, allowing each measurement to be linked to its exact location within the mining area. This makes it possible to examine how the elemental composition of the rock varied across the different areas of interest and to identify zones with higher chromium and iron concentrations.
This campaign demonstrated the capability of LIBS to deliver rapid in-field geochemical data, supporting real-time exploration and decision-making at the SO.RI.COM mine site.
The case study was performed by Spectral Industries (Christopher Miese & Daniel Rykov) in collaboration with SO.RI.COM.
