Batch sample preparation apparatus

A batch sample preparation apparatus for preparing a geological sample for analysis, the apparatus comprising:

• a dryer having a drying chamber, a sample inlet, a fine dried sample outlet disposed at an upper region of said drying chamber, and a coarse dried sample outlet disposed toward a lower region of said drying chamber;
• a comminution device in selective fluid communication with said dryer to selectively receive dried sample from said fine dried sample outlet and/or said coarse dried sample outlet, the comminution device for milling, crushing, and/or grinding the dried sample;
• a first cyclone disposed between said sample outlets and a first inlet of the comminution device, and a second cyclone disposed at an outlet of the comminution device, each cyclone having a corresponding underflow port and an overflow port;
• and
• a source of fluid introduced at said dryer so that sample material may be transported from said dryer to said comminution device by fluid flow;
• wherein the comminution device includes a control inlet arranged in fluid communication with an external environment, and having a control valve for controlling fluid flow through said control inlet for setting and facilitating pressure balancing between the dryer and comminution device, whereby opening and closing of said control valve allows clearing of sample material from the comminution device prior to introduction of sample material from a following batch, and whereby fluid flow also extracts the sample material from the comminution device for collection and subsequent analysis.