Covia Laboratory Services

Quality Assurance and Mineral Analysis
While Covia plant laboratories manage day-to-day quality control, the Ottawa team performs company-wide quality assurance testing. The laboratory verifies plant measurements, monitors product characteristics and maintains historical data that can reveal trends or unexpected variations.

The team also characterizes materials to support quality investigations, process studies and technical questions involving silica sand, clay, powdered minerals and foundry materials. This work supports Covia products used in glass, ceramics, coatings, polymers, foundry, sports and recreation and other industrial markets.

Key Capabilities Include:

• Chemical and elemental analysis
• Mineral identification
• Particle size and physical property analysis
• Microscopy and surface analysis
• Bench-scale mineral processing
• Drill core analysis
• Quality assurance testing
• Application-specific mineral testing

Customer-Focused Product Development
Customers can work directly with Covia scientists and engineers to define performance goals, participate in trials and evaluate materials in relevant applications. Technical service, product development and commercial teams keep each project aligned with the customer’s formulation, process and end-use requirements.

Teams process and modify minerals, incorporate them into applications and test performance. Results guide further refinement until the material meets the project’s objectives.

The center supports product and application development for coatings, polymers, building products, engineered stone, foundry, glass and ceramics and sports and recreation.

Key Capabilities Include:

• Mineral grinding and particle sizing
• Surface treatment
• Thermal processing
• Formulation development
• Application testing
• Physical and mechanical property testing
• Optical and thermal performance evaluation
• Durability and processability testing
• Customer trials and technical collaboration

Mineral Characterization and Technical Support
The Monterrey laboratory evaluates mineral composition and physical properties using X-ray fluorescence, atomic absorption, particle size analysis and other methods. Physical and ceramic testing measures properties such as surface area, pH, color, water absorption and dimensional changes.

These capabilities support mine planning, production investigations, product development and technical service for glass, ceramics, coatings, polymers, foundry and other industrial markets. By combining chemical and physical testing, the laboratory helps teams develop a more complete understanding of mineral properties and potential application performance.

Key Capabilities Include:

• Chemical composition and purity analysis
• Foundry sand characterization
• Glass sand characterization
• Ceramic material testing
• Particle size and surface area analysis
• Physical property testing
• Optical microscopy
• Mineral deposit evaluation
• Product development support
• Technical analysis for customer needs