The laser PSA is a unified optical system that uses a single technique for the full range of particle sizes to be analyzed. The analyzer can determine a full range of particle sizes in as little as quarter-phi increments from as small as 0.5 microns to nearly 4000 microns, or from very fine clay to small pebbles. The small container accessory of the laser permits analysis of samples as small as 0.1 g in weight if they are relatively fine grained. Any type of sediment can be analyzed, but samples need to be pre-treated to remove flocculating agents such as cements, organic matter, etc., to obtain an accurate reading of the grain size distribution.
Time is required to remove cementing and flocculating agents prior to laser analysis.