Day-to-day mining operations are often controlled by the collection and assaying of mine control samples such as blast holes, underground channel samples and RC samples. As mine cut-off grades change over time and new technologies are introduced it is useful to review sampling methods, in particular for reproducibility.

Analytical Solutions Ltd. provides pragmatic approaches to measuring the uncertainties associated with mine control sampling and understanding the implications for business decisions.

Companies with multiple operations will profit from comparing productivity, procedures and data quality. Operations within the same company can build on corporate strengths and ensure that management is using the same information to compare outputs.

Benchmarking is a useful tool employed by Analytical Solutions Ltd. to compare operations. A questionnaire of over 500 questions is available to compare and contrast facilities in a quantitative approach.

Mine laboratories should be optimized in terms of turn around time, production and costs. Many important business decisions, from discriminating ore and waste to payment for concentrates, are based on mine laboratory data. The laboratory assays must therefore be accurate and need to be fit-for-purpose with regards to precision.

Analytical Solutions Ltd. provides laboratory audits, recommendations for improvements to equipment and processes, and assessment of accuracy and precision. The data requirements are linked to an understanding of sampling and milling procedures to ensure that the data are appropriate.