METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ANALYZING A SET OF SAMPLES OR A SURFACE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-technique, multi-decimeter chemical mapping device and method for studying a set of samples, cores, or a surface, characterized in that said device comprises a control computer, a control unit, a measuring instrument, at least one longitudinal rail (13) extending along a longitudinal direction (X), a support (2) mounted in translation on said longitudinal rail along said longitudinal direction, a plate (21) mounted in translation on said support along a transverse direction (Y) and perpendicular to said longitudinal direction, a fixing (22) provided for fixing the measuring instrument and mounted in translation on said plate along a vertical direction (Z), and means (24, 25, 26) for actuating the translation of the support, the plate, and the fixing, respectively, said means being controlled by the control unit. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ANALYZING A SET OF SAMPLES OR A SURFACE

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a device for multi-technique and multi-decimeter chemical analysis for the study of a set of samples or of a surface.

[0002] It is known that there are devices for the physical, mineralogical and / or chemical characterization of rocks which allow for the non-destructive measurement of several parameters such as density, magnetic susceptibility, mineralogy, etc. The measurements are carried out on drill cores.

[0003] In particular, there is the device developed by Geotek. This device comprises a bench and an analysis system. The bench includes an infeed conveyor on which the core sample to be analyzed is placed, an analysis conveyor onto which the core sample is transferred for analysis, and an outfeed conveyor onto which the core sample is transferred after analysis. The movement of the core sample then occurs only along a longitudinal axis called the X axis. The analysis system includes an analysis instrument and mounting elements. The analysis instrument is attached to the analysis conveyor of the bench by means of the mounting elements. The analysis instrument scans the core sample along the X axis during the analysis.

[0004] However, this device is bulky and limited in terms of analytical instrument because the instrument can only move along the X axis. Moreover, it is specifically dedicated to the analysis of cores.

[0005] A spectroscopic analysis device for drill cores, particularly drill cores from oil, mining, or scientific production, is also known from document FR 3 022 029 A1, employing a laser ablation-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) method. The device comprises:

[0006] - a measuring assembly comprising optical means for laser illumination, optical means for collecting plasma light and an imaging camera;

[0007] - at least one spectrometer connected to the optical collection means;

[0008] - data processing means for processing the signals provided by the at least a spectrometer and the images provided by the camera;

[0009] - a carrot support for supporting the carrot on a measuring table, and for to keep the carrot in a predetermined position;

[0010] - means for operating a relative displacement between the measuring assembly and the carrot support.

[0011] However, this device is bulky and limited in terms of analytical instrument since it is dedicated to laser ablation induced spectroscopic analysis (LIBS for Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy in English).

[0012] Moreover, it is specifically dedicated to the analysis of carrots.

[0013] Therefore, the invention aims to provide a more ergonomic multi-technique and multi-decimeter chemical mapping device that has a flexible protocol to allow the analysis of a plurality of media, i.e. the analysis not only of cores but also the analysis of walls and samples.

[0014] To this end, the invention relates to a multi-technique and multi-decimeter chemical mapping device for the study of a set of samples, cores or a surface, characterized in that said device comprises a control computer, a control unit, a measuring instrument, at least a first longitudinal rail extending along a direction called longitudinal, a support mounted in translation on said longitudinal rail along said longitudinal direction, a plate mounted in translation on said support along a direction called transverse and perpendicular to said longitudinal direction, a fixing provided for fixing the measuring instrument, mounted in translation on said plate along a direction called vertical, means for actuating the translation respectively of the support, the plate and the fixing, said means being controlled by the control unit.

[0015] Optional features of the invention, complementary or alternative, are stated below.

[0016] Advantageously, the measuring instrument can be chosen from the list defined by infrared ray spectrometers, laser ablation spectroscopes, X-ray fluorescence spectrometers, RAMAN spectrometers.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the device may further comprise a bench extending along the longitudinal direction and on which at least one longitudinal rail is fixed.

[0018] Preferably, the bench may include a conveyor capable of moving the set of samples or cores along the so-called longitudinal direction.

[0019] Also preferably, the device may further include a compartmentalized tray intended to hold a set of samples, and / or a box intended to hold carrots.

[0020] Even more preferably, the device may further include a set of stops and wedges for securing and locking said platform and / or said box.

[0021] According to a certain embodiment, the device may include a second Ion- rail The longitudinal support may include two slides mounted in translation respectively on each of the longitudinal rails.

[0022] Advantageously, the support may include at least one transverse rail on which the plate is mounted in translation along the so-called transverse direction.

[0023] According to another embodiment, an actuator can be fixed to the plate, the vertically translating moving part of said actuator carrying the fixing of the measuring instrument.

[0024] Preferably, the means for actuating the translation of the support, the plate and the fixing respectively can be electric motors.

[0025] Advantageously, the support is provided with means for fixing the support to a surface.

[0026] Advantageously, the device may include a Point-Line-Plane system, comprising a fixed base, a movable base, three balls housed for two of them respectively in a trihedron and a V-groove, three screws passing through the movable base and dedicated respectively to securing one of the balls.

[0027] The invention also relates to a multi-technique and multi-decimeter chemical mapping method for studying a sample or core tray, using a multi-technique and multi-decimeter chemical mapping device according to an embodiment of the invention and comprising a bench, a conveyor and a compartmentalized tray for holding a set of samples, and / or a box for holding cores, characterized in that the tray containing a set of samples, or the box containing cores, is manually positioned on the bench, then the tray or box is locked in place when the bench includes a set of stops and locking and clamping wedges, then the control unit, according to a program executed by the computer, moves the measuring instrument along at least one of the three directions (X), (Y), (Z),in order to analyze successively all the samples or all the carrots.

[0028] The invention also relates to a multi-technique, multi-decimeter chemical mapping method for studying a surface, using a multi-technique, multi-decimeter chemical mapping device according to an embodiment of the invention in which the support comprises means for fixing it to a surface, said device further comprising a measuring instrument selected from the list defined by infrared spectrometers, laser ablation spectrographs, X-ray fluorescence spectrometers, and Raman spectrometers, characterized in that the support is fixed to the surface by means of the fixings, and then the control unit, according to a program executed by the computer, moves the measuring instrument along at least one of the three directions (X), (Y), (Z), so as to analyze a predefined area of ​​said surface.

[0029] Other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description of implementations and embodiments, which are by no means limiting, and the following accompanying drawings:

[0030] [Fig-1] This figure represents a schematic perspective view of a device multi-technique and multi-decimeter chemical mapping according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0031] [Fig.2] This figure represents a schematic top view of a car device multi-technique and multi-decimeter chemical tography according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0032] [Fig. 3] This figure represents a schematic side view of a car device multi-technique and multi-decimeter chemical tography according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0033] [Fig. 4] This figure represents a schematic front view of a car device multi-technique and multi-decimeter chemical tography according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0034] [Fig. 5] This figure represents a detailed view of the setup of a spectrometer infrared rays on a multi-technique and multi-decimeter chemical mapping device according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0035] [Fig. 6] This figure represents a detailed view of the setup of a spectrometer X-ray fluorescence on a multi-technique, multi-decimeter chemical mapping device according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0036] [Fig. 7] This figure represents a detailed view of the setup of a spectrometer RAMAN on a multi-technique and multi-decimeter chemical mapping device according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0037] [Fig.8] This figure represents a perspective view of a platform suitable for receiving a set of tubes containing samples that can be analyzed on a multi-technique and multi-decimeter chemical mapping device according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0038] [Fig.9] This figure represents a perspective view of a Point-Line-Plane system implemented in a multi-technique and multi-decimeter chemical mapping device according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0039] [Fig. 10] This figure represents a detailed view of a Point-Line-Plane system implemented in a multi-technique and multi-decimeter chemical mapping device according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0040] [Fig. 11] This figure represents a detailed view of an assembly of stops and shims for shimming and locking, implemented in a multi-chemical mapping device techniques and multi-decimeter according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0041] [Fig. 12] This figure represents another detailed view of a set of stop and shims for shim and locking, implemented in a multi-technique and multi-decimeter chemical mapping device according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0042] The embodiments described below are in no way limiting, variants of the invention may in particular be considered comprising only a selection of the described features, isolated from the other described features even if this selection is isolated within a sentence including these other features, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0043] This selection includes at least one feature, preferably functional without structural details, or with only part of the structural details if this part alone is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from prior art information.

[0044] Figures 1 to 4 represent, from various points of view, a multi-technical and multi-decimeter chemical mapping device for the study of a set of samples, cores or a surface according to the principle of the invention.

[0045] The multi-technique and multi-decimeter chemical mapping device comprises at least a PC control computer, an ECU control unit, a first rail 13 extending along a longitudinal direction (X), a support 2 mounted in translation along said longitudinal direction on said rail 13, a plate 21 mounted in translation along a transverse direction (Y) on said support, a fixing 22 for a measuring instrument, mounted in translation on said plate along a vertical direction (Z).

[0046] Thus, the support 2 moves along the longitudinal direction (X), as does the plate 21 mounted on the support 2 and the fastener 22 mounted on the plate.

[0047] The plate 21 therefore moves along the longitudinal direction (X) as well as along the transverse direction (Y) as does the fastener 22 mounted on the plate.

[0048] The fixing 22 therefore moves along the longitudinal direction (X), along the transverse direction (Y), as well as along the vertical direction (Z).

[0049] The device also includes means 24, 25, 26 for actuating the translation respectively of the support, the plate and the fixing.

[0050] These means 24, 25, 26 are independently controlled by the ECU, so that when the PC executes a program, the ECU controls the movement of the fastener 22 according to a specific program. The program is developed in LabVIEW and comprises two parts:

[0051] - the interface between the user and the device according to manual or automatic control Automatic control, and the control and display of variables used in the program. This can be buttons, tables, text, etc.

[0052] - A "source code" diagram that shows the inputs and outputs of the interface and allows for calculations, external data retrieval, etc.

[0053] According to an embodiment shown in [Fig. 1] to 4, the multi-technique and multi-decimeter chemical mapping device may advantageously include a bench 1 on which the support 2 rests. In this case, at least one or two longitudinal rails 13 are fixed to the bench and the support 2 includes two slides 20 mounted in translation each respectively on one of the two longitudinal rails 13 attached to the bench 1.

[0054] The support 2 advantageously comprises at least one transverse rail 23 on which the plate 21 is mounted in translation along the so-called transverse direction (Y).

[0055] According to the embodiment shown in [Fig. 1] to 4, the bench 1 advantageously comprises a conveyor 11 capable of moving material along the so-called longitudinal direction X. This conveyor is equipped with a plurality of fixed rollers 12.

[0056] Advantageously, the bench may include a set of stops and wedges for securing and locking sample trays or boxes of carrots to be analyzed.

[0057] Thus, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, this assembly comprises a clamping stop 14y in the transverse direction (Y), a clamping stop 14x in the longitudinal direction (X), a locking stop 15x in the longitudinal direction (X) and a clamping wedge 15y. The stops 14x, 15x, 14y are actuated by means of cylinders 140x, 150x, 140y.

[0058] An actuator 24 is advantageously fixed to the plate 21, the movable part 240 of said actuator carrying the fixing 22 of the measuring instrument 4.

[0059] Preferably, the means 24, 25, 26 for actuating the translation respectively of the support, the plate and the fixing are electric motors.

[0060] Advantageously, the device includes feet 10 on which the bench 1 rests.

[0061] Equally advantageously, the support is equipped with means 29 for anchoring it to a surface.

[0062] As shown in [Fig.8], the device further comprises a tray 3 divided into compartments to accommodate a set of samples.

[0063] This tray can be a molded plastic plate having indentations 30 on one of its faces at regular intervals, suitable for holding tubes filled with samples (generally powders). Since the geometry of the analysis tubes is identical for all, there is no difference in height between the tubes and therefore no adjustment is necessary (no tilt adjustment required).

[0064] According to a particular embodiment, the plate 3 is more precisely pierced with 100 slots arranged in 10 rows and 10 columns. These slots are sized to hold small PVC tubes or boxes filled with powdered material to be analyzed. These boxes are sealed with a plastic film that does not interfere with X-ray fluorescence analysis. This system can be used on a multi-technique, multi-decimeter chemical mapping device according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0065] The device may also include a box suitable for holding carrots.

[0066] As shown in figures 9 and 10, the device advantageously includes a Point-Line-Plane 5 system.

[0067] This device makes it possible to parallel the surface to be analyzed and the horizontal plane of the bench. Thus, the distance between a point on the plane of the surface to be analyzed and an instrument 4 remains constant.

[0068] The Point-Line-Plane system consists of a fixed base 50, a movable base 51 delimited by four edges 55, three balls 56, two of which are housed in a trihedral frame 57 and the third in a V-groove, and three screws 520, 521, 522, each passing through an insert 53 and the movable base, and each dedicated to securing one of the balls. The position of the fixed base 50 relative to the movable base 51 is adjusted by means of two tension springs 54 and the three screws 520, 521, 522.

[0069] Advantageously, the device includes a first indicator light 27 attached to the support 2 and a second indicator light 28 attached to the plate 21.

[0070] The first indicator light is activated to signal the movement of the analytical instruments. The second indicator light is activated to signal that an analytical instrument is in operation, with a potential hazard. It is activated in particular during:

[0071] - XRF analyses due to X-ray emission,

[0072] - Raman analyses due to the emission of a class 3 laser beam,

[0073] - LIBS analyses due to class 4 laser shots.

[0074] Advantageously, in fields of application relating to archaeology or geology, the device includes a measuring instrument chosen from the list defined by infrared ray spectrometers, laser ablation spectroscopes, X-ray fluorescence spectrometers, RAMAN spectrometers.

[0075] Infrared spectroscopy is a class of spectroscopy that deals with the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. It encompasses a wide range of techniques, the most common being a type of absorption spectroscopy. As with all spectroscopic techniques, it can be used for the identification of compounds or to determine the composition of a sample. Since the acquisition instruments are miniaturized, they are portable, even for outdoor use. With With advances in computer filtering and data processing technologies, samples in solution can now be measured precisely (water exhibits broad absorbance over the relevant wavelengths, rendering an unprocessed spectrum uninterpretable). Since some instruments have their own databases, identification can also be automated.

[0076] Figure 5 shows in detail the mounting of an IR spectrometer 4 on the device according to the invention. More specifically, the IR spectrometer 4 is fixed to a support 220 and held in place by means of a tab 221, thus constituting the mounting 22. The support 220 is itself mounted on the movable part 240 of the actuator 24, which is itself mounted on the plate 21. A junction box 241 allows the various instruments to be electrically connected to the control PC. This box has a USB port and three specific ports adapted to the various instruments. The actuator 24 is controlled by the ECU.

[0077] Laser-induced plasma spectrometry is a very low-destructive analytical technique (micron surface ablation) whose principle is based on the use of non-ionizing monochromatic radiation.

[0078] The analysis of the samples is broken down into five steps:

[0079] 1-A high-energy pulsed laser is focused onto the sample. The high temperature of the laser on the sample causes the ablation of a small volume of material into a plasma. The plasma contains excited atoms and ions from the sample. The environment is controlled: air, argon, helium.

[0080] 2-When the plasma begins to cool, the electrons of the excited atoms and ions fall back into their initial states. As they return to their ground states, light (of specific wavelengths) is emitted by the plasma and collected by the spectrometer.

[0081] 3-The spectrometer separates all wavelengths using high-resolution dispersive optics and then detects them with a charge-coupled sensor (CCD) containing a very large number of pixels aligned in a bar of photodiodes.

[0082] 4-Each pixel (after wavelength calibration) corresponds to a precise and known wavelength. The intensity collected by each pixel is proportional to the quantity of photons collected. The wavelength (X-axis) and the intensity (Y-axis) allow the display of a histogram (spectrum) characteristic of an ablated point (and therefore of the sample if it is homogeneous).

[0083] 5-Thus, if the pixel in question corresponds to the wavelength of a de-excitation characteristic of an electronic transition of an element, appropriate calibration can calculate the mass concentration of that element in the matrix. By processing the entire spectrum, the concentration of all the elements present, from hydrogen to uranium (if they have been calibrated), can be deduced.

[0084] X-ray fluorescence spectrometry is a chemical analysis technique that uses a physical property of matter, X-ray fluorescence.

[0085] When matter is bombarded with X-rays, the matter re-emits energy in the form of, among other things, X-rays; this is X-ray fluorescence, or secondary X-ray emission.

[0086] The X-ray spectrum emitted by the material is characteristic of the composition of the sample; by analyzing this spectrum, one can deduce the elemental composition, that is to say the mass concentrations of elements.

[0087] Spectrum analysis can be performed in two ways:

[0088] - either by wavelength dispersive X-ray analysis (WD-XRF, wavelength dispersive X-ray analysis) ray fluorescence spectrometry);

[0089] - either by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) analysis resonance spectrometry).

[0090] Figure 6 illustrates a mounting 22 of an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer on a device according to the invention. The head of the X-ray fluorescence spectrometer is fixed to a support 222', itself mounted on a plate 221'. Four threaded rods 223' are screwed onto this plate. The rods pass through two horizontal bars 220' which are integral with the movable part 240 of the Z-axis actuator. Springs inserted between the support plate and the horizontal bars cushion the contact between the spectrometer head and the part to be analyzed. This contact must be flexible (so as not to induce mechanical stress on the instrument and the sample) and firm (to allow the contact that enables the instrument to emit its X-ray flux to be actuated). This is a safety feature since there is no contact, there is no flux. A locknut system at the top of the threaded rods allows adjustment of the stiffness of the contact between the plate and the sample.

[0091] Raman spectroscopy (or Raman spectrometry) and Raman microspectroscopy are non-destructive methods for observing and characterizing the molecular composition and external structure of a material. They exploit the physical phenomenon whereby a medium slightly alters the frequency of light passing through it. This frequency shift, known as the Raman effect, corresponds to an exchange of energy between the light ray and the medium, and provides information about the substrate itself. Raman spectroscopy consists of shining monochromatic light onto the sample and analyzing the scattered light. The information obtained by measuring and analyzing this shift allows certain properties of the medium to be determined through spectroscopy.

[0092] Coherent Raman scattering does not use an observation of light scattered spontaneously during molecular collisions, but the coherent amplification of a second ray of different frequency and temporally incoherent with the excitation ray.

[0093] This technique is complementary to infrared spectroscopy. Both allow the study of a molecule's vibrational modes, but the selection rules for the two spectroscopies may differ depending on molecular symmetry. For molecules with a center of symmetry, no vibrational mode is observable by both spectroscopies. Some modes are active only in Raman spectroscopy and others only in infrared spectroscopy.

[0094] Figure 7 illustrates the mounting of a Raman spectrometer on a device according to the invention. The round head of the spectrometer is locked in the cylindrical hole of a plate which is fixed to the base of the moving part 240 of the actuator Z. The spectrometer is held in equilibrium by two nylon screws which tighten its head onto the plate. The spectrometer is connected to the USB port of the housing 241. Its power supply is mounted on the "instrument power supply bracket".

[0095] Such a device according to the invention makes it possible to carry out the analysis directly in a mine, on an archaeological site or even a geological site without having to drill the support to extract a core.

[0096] Such a device allows for horizontal analysis but also for inclined analysis up to the vertical and allows for analysis on both floors and walls.

[0097] To do this, the support is fixed to the surface to be analyzed by means of the fixings 29, then the control unit, according to a program executed by the computer, moves the measuring instrument along at least one of the three directions (X), (Y), (Z), so as to analyze a predefined area of ​​said surface (floor or wall).

[0098] In the case of multi-technique, multi-decimeter chemical mapping of a sample or core tray, the tray 3, containing a set of samples, or the box containing cores, is manually positioned on the bench. The tray or box is then locked in place when the bench is equipped with a set of stops and wedges 14x, 14y, 15x, 15y. Electrical control is provided by a control box equipped with pushbuttons. This operation is not automated. To automate this operation, a sequence of actions would be required (1-locking stop X, 2-positioning Y, 3-positioning X), measuring the electrical currents in the cylinders and stopping the movement of each cylinder when its current exceeds a predefined threshold. The increase in current corresponds to a mechanical resistance generated by the X and Y plates. For the X stop, the construction of the system does not make current measurement necessary.

[0099] Next, the control unit, according to a program executed by the computer, directs the movement of the measuring instrument along at least one of the three directions (X), (Y), (Z), so as to successively analyze all the samples or all the carrots.

[0100] Furthermore, the analytical instrument can vary depending on the mapping to be performed: infrared, LIBS, Raman, X-ray fluorescence, high-resolution photography. It is also possible to combine several analytical instruments in order to determine the chemical composition of the areas analyzed.

[0101] The device according to the invention makes it possible to carry out mineral mapping with chemical and optical characterization instruments (Infrared, Laser Ablation Spectroscopy (LIBS), Raman, X-ray Fluorescence, High-resolution photography).

[0102] The use of a combination of instruments makes it possible to specify the chemical composition of the areas analyzed.

[0103] The nature of the mineral elements can be of all types: geological samples, archaeological samples (mosaics, paintings for example).

[0104] The device according to the invention makes it possible to work on flat or almost flat samples, of centimeter to metric size, of geological cores.

[0105] The device can be positioned horizontally or inclined up to vertically. It allows analyses to be carried out on both soils and walls (mine faces for example).

[0106] The device according to the invention eliminates the tedious and repetitive nature of manual analyses. For example, in X-ray fluorescence analyses, analysis times can reach several minutes for the same point without movement.

[0107] The precision of positioning of the instruments and their movements guarantees the superposition of the analyses by the different instruments, which makes it possible to accurately determine the chemical composition of the sampled points.

[0108] The system is transportable by a van or any other vehicle of less than 3.5 T.

[0109] Note that the different characteristics, forms, variants and embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other, according to various combinations insofar as they are not incompatible or exclusive of each other.

Claims

Claims

1. Multi-technique and multi-decimetric chemical mapping device for the study of a set of samples, cores or a surface, characterized in that said device comprises a control PC computer, an ECU control unit, a measuring instrument (4), at least one longitudinal rail (13) extending in a so-called longitudinal direction (X), a support (2) mounted in translation on said longitudinal rail in said longitudinal direction, a plate (21) mounted in translation on said support in a so-called transverse direction (Y) and perpendicular to said longitudinal direction, a fixing (22) provided for fixing the measuring instrument (4) and mounted in translation on said plate in a so-called vertical direction (Z), means (24, 25, 26) for actuating the translation respectively of the support, the plate and the fixing, said means being controlled by the ECU control unit.

2. Multi-technique and multi-decimetric chemical mapping device according to claim 1, characterized in that the measuring instrument (4) is chosen from the list defined by infrared ray spectrometers, laser ablation spectroscopes, X-ray fluorescence spectrometers, RAMAN spectrometers.

3. Multi-technique and multi-decimetric chemical mapping device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the device further comprises a bench (1) extending in the longitudinal direction and on which the at least one longitudinal rail (13) is fixed.

4. Multi-technique and multi-decimetric chemical mapping device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the bench (1) comprises a conveyor (11) capable of moving the set of samples or cores in the so-called longitudinal direction (X).

5. Multi-technique and multi-decimetric chemical mapping device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it further comprises a compartmentalized tray (3) provided to accommodate a set of samples, and / or a box provided to accommodate cores.

6. Multi-technique and multi-decimetric chemical mapping device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the bench comprises a set of stops and wedges (14x, 15x, 14y, 15y) allowing said tray and / or said box to be blocked and wedged.

7. Multi-technique and multi-decimetric chemical mapping device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (2) comprises at least one transverse rail (23) on which the plate (21) is mounted in translation in the so-called transverse direction (Y).

8. Multi-technique and multi-decimetric chemical mapping device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (24, 25, 26) for actuating the translation respectively of the fixing (22), of the support (2), of the plate (21) are electric motors.

9. Multi-technique and multi-decimetric chemical mapping device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (2) is provided with means (29) for fixing said support to a surface.

10. Multi-technique and multi-decimetric chemical mapping device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a Point-Line-Plane system (5), comprising a fixed base (50), a mobile base (51), three balls (56) housed for two of them respectively in a trihedron (57) and a V-groove, three screws (520), (521), (522) passing through the mobile base and dedicated respectively to the securing of one of the balls, the position of the fixed base (50) relative to the mobile base (51) being adjusted by means of two tension springs (54) and the three screws (520, 521, 522).

11. Multi-technique and multi-decimetric chemical mapping method for the study of a tray of samples or cores, using a device according to claim 6, characterized in that the tray (3) filled with a set of samples, or the box filled with cores, is manually positioned on the bench (11), then the tray or box is blocked when the bench comprises a set of stops and blocking and clamping wedges (14x, 15x, 14y, 15y), then the ECU control unit controls, according to a program executed by the PC computer, the movement in at least one of the three directions (X), (Y), (Z), of the measuring instrument (4), so as to successively analyze all of the samples or all of the cores.

12. Multi-technique and multi-decimetric chemical mapping method for the study of a surface, using a device in accordance with claim 9, said device further comprising a measuring instrument chosen from the list defined by infrared ray spectrometers, laser ablation spectroscopes, X-ray fluorescence spectrometers, RAMAN spectrometers, characterized in that the support (2) is fixed to the surface by means of the fixings (29), then the ECU control unit controls according to a program executed by the PC computer, the movement in at least one of the three directions (X), (Y), (Z), of the measuring instrument, so as to analyze a predefined area of said surface.

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