Sample collection and handling

• Sample collection and handling is a critical step in any scientific

investigation, especially in fields like geology, environmental
science, chemistry, biology, and medicine.

• Proper procedures ensure the integrity and reliability of

analytical results.

• essential for ensuring accurate geological, geochemical,

geotechnical, or petrological analyses.
Planning the Sampling Campaign
• Planning the Sampling Campaign in Geology is a foundational step
that ensures the collection of reliable, relevant, and scientifically
valid geological data.
• Define Purpose: Are you sampling for mineralogy, stratigraphy,
structural analysis, geochemistry, or geotechnical testing?
• Site Selection: Based on geological maps, remote sensing data, or
prior reconnaissance.
• Determine Sample Types: Rock, soil, sediment, drill core, or water
(for hydrogeological studies).
Define Objectives
❖Lithological or stratigraphic mapping

❖Mineral exploration (e.g., gold, uranium, REEs)

❖Geotechnical investigations (e.g., for foundations or slope

stability)

❖Geochemical surveys

❖Hydrogeological assessment
Understand the Geological Context

• Review existing literature: Geological maps, reports, and

publications.

• Analyze remote sensing data: Satellite imagery, aerial photographs.

• Identify target formations or structures: Fault zones, mineralized

zones, stratigraphic units.

Select Sampling Locations
• Choose representative and accessible sites based on
objectives.

• Use a systematic, grid-based, or stratified sampling

design depending on study type.
❖For reconnaissance surveys, use random or judgmental
sampling to identify key areas.
Sample Collection Methods
a. Rock Samples
• Use geological hammers, chisels, or rock saws.
• Collect fresh, unweathered samples from outcrops or trenches.
• Target representative lithologies and structures (e.g., faults, veins).
b. Soil and Sediment Samples
• Use augers, shovels, or trowels.
• Remove the top organic layer unless it’s of interest.
• Collect at set depths for soil profiling.
c. Drill Core Samples
• Follow standardized drilling protocols.
• Label core boxes clearly by depth intervals.
• Photograph and log core in detail (lithology, structures, alterations).
Determine Sample Types and Quantities
• Rock Samples: Hand specimens for petrography or geochemistry.

• Soil Samples: For regolith studies, geochemistry, or slope stability.

• Core Samples: From drilling for subsurface analysis.

• Stream Sediments or Water: For hydrogeochemical studies.

❖Estimate how many samples you’ll need per location or per area
unit (e.g., one sample per 100 m² in a geochemical grid).
Prepare Sampling Equipment

• Geological hammer, chisels, sample bags

• GPS device, compass-clinometer

• Field notebook or digital data collection tools

• Labels, markers, and sample ID tags

• Maps and aerial imagery

Safety and Logistics

• Assess terrain and weather conditions.

• Arrange transportation, accommodation, and food.

• Ensure communication equipment is available.

• Prepare a safety plan, especially in remote or hazardous

areas.
 Permissions and Ethical Considerations

• Secure land access permits or agreements with

landowners or government authorities.

• Ensure cultural and environmental sensitivities are

respected (e.g., avoid sacred sites or ecologically protected
areas)
Plan for Sample Handling and Analysis

• Plan for on-site sample processing (e.g., cutting, drying).

• Decide where and how samples will be stored or

transported.

• Pre-select laboratories for analysis and understand their

sample requirements
On-site sample processing

• The preliminary treatment of samples at the field location

before transport to a laboratory.
➢Ensures that the samples are preserved in a suitable condition,
are easier to handle, and meet analytical requirements.
➢Helps reduce the volume of material transported, especially in
remote areas.
[Link] Cleaning
❖Remove unwanted material (soil, vegetation, weathered surfaces).

• Rock samples: Use a hammer or chisel to remove

altered/weathered surfaces and obtain fresh material.

• Soil/sediment samples: Sieve to remove large debris (e.g., >2 mm) if

required.
[Link] Size Reduction
• Chipping: Large rock samples are broken into smaller
hand-sized pieces (~1–2 kg).

• Quartering (for bulk samples): The sample is mixed, spread

out, and divided into quarters—two are discarded, and the
rest combined for analysis.
[Link] Control

• Air drying: For soil and sediment samples that are too wet.

Place them in shade in a clean, dust-free area.

❖Note: Do not dry if the sample requires moisture-sensitive tests

(e.g., Atterberg limits in geotechnical analysis).

[Link] and Documentation
• Each sample must be:
• Clearly labeled with sample ID, date, location, and depth.
• Recorded in a field logbook or digital device with coordinates, lithology,
and context.
Label Immediately:
• Sample ID
• Date & time
• GPS coordinates
• Stratigraphic position or depth
• Collector’s initials
[Link]

• Rock samples: Placed in cloth or plastic bags with tags inside

and outside.
• Soil samples: Use zip-lock bags, plastic containers, or
aluminum foil, depending on test type.
• Core samples: Stored in core boxes with interval markings,
securely sealed.
[Link] Sorting and Storage

• Sort samples by type or location in sturdy boxes or

crates.

• Keep in a shaded, dry area until transport.

Chain of Custody and Analysis Preparation
• The Chain of Custody is a documented process that tracks the
possession, handling, transfer, and storage of samples from the
point of collection in the field through transportation and analysis in
the laboratory

• Prepare samples through cutting, crushing, or pulverizing as

required for Preferred Lab Services.
Sample preparation
• Proper sample preparation is essential for accurate, reliable
geological laboratory analyses.

• It ensures that the material is homogenized, representative, and

in the appropriate form for specific tests such as chemical,
mineralogical, or petrophysical analysis.
sample preparation steps
1. Crushing and Grinding

Reduce the sample size to allow for homogenization and facilitate

subsequent analysis .

Process:

[Link] Crushing:
[Link] a jaw crusher to reduce large rock pieces to ~ 150–300 mm.
[Link] large chunks and exposes fresh surfaces.
Crushing
• Purpose: Reduce large rocks (run-of-mine ore) to a size suitable for
grinding.
• Stages:
• Primary Crushing – Reduces ore to 150–300 mm (e.g., jaw crushers,
gyratory crushers).
• Secondary Crushing – Further reduces size to about 40 mm (e.g.,
cone crushers, impact crushers).
• Tertiary Crushing – Optional, for finer crushing before grinding.
Equipment

• Jaw Crusher

• Gyratory Crusher

• Cone Crusher

• Impact Crusher
Grinding
Achieve finer particle size to liberate minerals (typically below 0.3 mm).

• Types:
• Dry Grinding – Used when water is scarce.
• Wet Grinding – Most common; uses water and is more energy-
efficient.

• Product: Slurry or fine particles ready for concentration methods –

STUDY MORE
Grinding Mills
• Rod Mills – Use steel rods; good for coarse grinding.
• Ball Mills – Use steel balls; suitable for finer grinding.
• SAG Mills (Semi-Autogenous) – Use ore itself plus balls for grinding.
• Autogenous Mills – Use only the ore; no grinding media.
Secondary Crushing / Pulverizing:
[Link] a disc mill, roller mill, or ring and puck mill to reduce
particle size to fine powders (usually <75 µm or -200 mesh).
[Link] homogeneous sample suitable for geochemical
testing.
Precautions:
• Clean equipment between samples to avoid cross-contamination.
• Use non-metallic liners (e.g., tungsten carbide or agate) for trace
element work.
Secondary Crushing
To further reduce the size of ore coming from primary crushers (typically 150–300
mm) to around 20–40 mm — suitable for feed to mills.

Common Crushers Used:

• Cone Crushers – Efficient for hard and abrasive ores.

• Impact Crushers – Good for brittle materials.

• Roll Crushers – Suitable for softer ores or coal.

Features:

• Controlled size reduction.

• Aims to minimize over-crushing (fines generation).

Pulverizing
To crush ore to a powder-like state, typically below 1 mm, preparing it for
chemical processing or detailed mineral liberation.
Often Interchangeable With:
• Ultra-fine Grinding
• Fine Milling
Applications:
• Lab-scale sample preparation.
• Pre-treatment before concentration methods.
• Coal and mineral assay.
2. Sieving
Separate particles into specific size fractions depending on the analytical
requirement (e.g., grain size analysis, geochemical partitioning).

Process:

[Link] Sieving:
1. Used for soils, sediments, and crushed rocks.
2. Use a mechanical shaker and a stack of sieves with progressively smaller mesh sizes.

[Link] Sieving:
1. Used for samples prone to aggregation or when analyzing fine-grained fractions like clay and
silt.
2. Helps remove clay coatings or salts.
Standard Mesh Sizes:

• Coarse: >2 mm

• Medium: 2 mm to 75 µm

• Fine: <75 µm

Applications:

• Particle size distribution

• Selecting size fractions for geochemical analysis (often <180 µm or

<75 µm)
[Link] Digestion
Dissolve the sample into a solution suitable for chemical analysis
Types of Digestion Methods:
[Link] Digestion:
[Link] common: aqua regia (HCl + HNO₃) for trace metals.
[Link] digestion (with HNO₃ or HClO₄) for silicate rocks and total elemental
analysis.
[Link] Digestion:
[Link]-temperature fusion using lithium metaborate or sodium peroxide.
[Link] for refractory minerals and complete dissolution.
[Link]-Assisted Digestion:
[Link] and faster.
[Link] closed-vessel digestion with controlled pressure and
temperature.

Precautions:

• Handle hazardous acids (e.g., HF) with proper PPE and in fume
hoods.

• Follow lab protocols and safety procedures strictly.

concentration methods
Concentration (or beneficiation) is the process of increasing the

content of valuable minerals in the ore after comminution.

It separates the ore into two parts:

• Concentrate: Rich in valuable minerals.

• Tailings: Waste or gangue material.

Main Types of Concentration Methods
1. Gravity Separation
Difference in specific gravity (density) between valuable minerals
and gangue.
Common Equipment:
• Jigs
• Shaking tables
• Spiral concentrators
• Wilfley tables
• Dense media separators
Used for: Gold, tin, tungsten, iron ore, chromite.
Magnetic Separation
Differences in magnetic properties of minerals.
Types:

• Low-intensity magnetic separation (LIMS): For ferromagnetic

minerals like magnetite.

• High-intensity magnetic separation (HIMS): For weakly magnetic

minerals like hematite or ilmenite.
Used for: Iron ores, chromite, rare earth minerals.
Froth Flotation
Differences in surface hydrophobicity of minerals.
Process:

• Finely ground ore mixed with water and reagents.

• Air bubbles introduced, hydrophobic minerals attach and float.

• Froth removed as concentrate.

Used for: Copper, lead, zinc, molybdenum, nickel, and other
sulfide minerals.
use of reagents in Froth Flotation
1. Collectors
-Increase the hydrophobicity of mineral surfaces so they attach to air bubbles.
2. Frothers
-Create stable froth to carry hydrophobic particles to the surface.
[Link]
-Prevent certain minerals from floating by making them hydrophilic.
4. Activators
-React with mineral surfaces to enhance their interaction with collectors.
5. pH Modifiers (Regulators)
-Control pulp pH, which affects mineral surface chemistry and reagent
performance.
Leaching (Chemical Separation)
Selective dissolution of valuable minerals using a solvent.
Methods:

• Cyanide leaching (gold/silver)

• Acid leaching (copper/uranium)

• Alkali leaching
Recovery: Via electrowinning, precipitation, or solvent extraction.
Used for: Gold, uranium, copper, nickel.
Electrostatic Separation

. Basis: Differences in electrical conductivity of minerals.

Used for: Rutile, zircon, monazite, cassiterite.
Sample analysis
and
assaying
ANY QUESTIONS
THE END