Unit 1
ORE SAMPLING
Definition: It is the process of obtaining from a lot of ore a smaller quantity
(representative sample) which contains unchanged percentage of all the constituents of
that lot.
It is the process of securing more or less representative samples of ore for the purpose of
gaining information as to composition of the whole by investigation of the part.
The objective of commercial ore sampling is met when the ultimate sample meets the
above conditions within an allowable limit of error and at a reasonable speed and cost.
The process is essentially of approximation; only by special care can the mining engineer
yield samples more than just a rough representation of the entire heterogenous masses.
Sampling is thus a process of securing accurate samples of the different exposures as
circumstances admit and justify.
The average contents of the deposit are then determined by c alculation of combinations
made according to judgement after studying the geology, and the relative position and
size of the exposures.
As there are limits to the accuracy of weighing and determining the constituents it is
necessary only that the error in sampling be smaller than the error in assaying.
Methods of sampling vary in detail according to size, character, accessibility and
general condition of the deposit, the degree of accuracy required and the means
available.
Factors affecting Ore sampling practice
1. Segregation of minerals: the constituents of ore are rarely uniformly distributed.
They are more or less segregated. Hence accuracy of sampling depends upon the
way in which the sample is obtained.
As in hand sampling, emphasis is laid on the intimate mixing and uniformity in
distribution of the different0sized particles around the axis of the truncated cone.
In mechanical sampling (also known as fractional sampling), frequent samples are
taken from a stream of ore.
2. Inaccessibility of the interior of the mass: Securing accurate samples with such
constraint is difficult. Dumps, or superficial deposits can easily be penetrated, and
sampled using drill holes or pits.
a. In case of mineral masses in-situ sampling is generally limited to existing
exposures.
b.
3. Degree of crushing: it is sufficient when the size of the largest particle does not
exceed the permissible weight of the sample obtained.
Insufficient crushing causes most of the persistent unintentional errors in
sampling.
SAMPLING METHODS
1. Hand method: requires merely a shovel. Applicable to all ores. Usually necessary
with wet or sticky ores.
2. Mechanical methods: stationary or moving devices of ore automatically divert the
desired proportion for sample. The operation may be continuous, mixing may not
be required. Liability of error is much less than with hand methods.
Mechanical devices are of two kinds:
(a) Stationary: which continuously divert certain portions of the stream for the
sample.
(b) Moving: which periodically divert the entire stream for the sample.
PRELIMINARY SAMPLE :: HAND METHODS
Grab Sampling:
The liability of error is higher. Different sets of workmen taking slightly different
portions may cause errors never discoverable.
Pipe Sampling
Coning and Quartering
Fractional Shoveling
PRELIMINARY SAMPLE :: STATIONARY MECHANICAL DEVICES
Whistle Pipe
Bank or combination Riffles
PRELIMINARY SAMPLE :: MOVING MECHANICAL DEVICES
1. Snyder Sampler
2. Vezin Sampler
3. Chas. Snyder Sampler
4. Brunton vibrating sampler
5. Brunton oscillating sampler
FINAL SAMPLE
(FOR PREPARATION OF ASSAY)
1. Reduction
2. drying
3. grinding
4. screening
5. mixing of ground sample
MOISTURE SAMPLES
It is taken by both grab method as well as by mechanical means.
Individual grab moisture samples may vary by as high as 25%, many must be taken to
assure an average. In grab sampling, care is necessary to obtain proper proportions of
all sizes, as fines usually contain much more water than coarse pieces.
MULTI-SAMPLES
Check Sampling: In practice multiple samples are taken (duplicate, triplicate,
quadruplet) so as to serve many purposes. This detects sating, acts as a guide to the
necessity of resampling, and averages errors of faulty methods. This also exposes
gross errors in later work.
These samples are preserved at certain protected place. These additional samples
serve as a check of inaccuracies, and alleviating conflicts between the producer and
customer.
Steps in Sampling
1. Crushing the sample: Unless a mass is composed entirely of relatively fine
particles, or is particularly homogenous, one of the most important features of
sampling is crushing.
a. Power crushers should be used when feasible.
b. Tools: Miner’s hammer, anvil, large sledge. Iron ring with handles is
useful to hold the anvil.
2. Coning and Quartering: The crushed mass is worked into a cone by shoveling
all the material to one point on the quartering floor, in such a manner that the
particles roll down in all directions from the central point. Irregularities in the
composition of the mass are thus distributed as concentric layers of a cone. The
top of cone is then flattened with the edge of the shovel, by spreading the material
equally in all directions until a disk is formed, thickness of which is 0.1 times the
diameter. Disk is marked in quadrants, and the diagonally opposite quarters are
cut out, care being taken that all material in the rejected quadrants is removed out.
With the remaining half of the mass, again the coning and quartering process is
performed.
a. The cycle of crushing, coning and quartering is repeated until a
sample of desired size is obtained.
3. SPLITTING: It is the reduction of a mass by some type of splitter, or series of
parallel troughs which alternately retain and reject series of equally broad sections
from a stream or crushed material poured over them.
a. Jones Riffle Sampler: It is used and gives results equal to the best
quartering. Care to be taken: apparatus should be clean; Entire lot is put
through; steady and full-width flow from the shovel. It is not suitable for
wet, sticky samples (Quartering is less objectionable to be used).
4. Decimating: If a mass load of mineral is transported via rail or other means, then
every tenth tub, barrow load, shovelful, or other unit of handling is selected as
sample.
5. Trench Sampling: In dumps or superficial deposits, a series of trenches are cut,
the mass is decimated, and crushed. The trenches are cut at intervals on the sides
of the surface.
6. Pit Sampling: In dumps and superficial deposits, a number of pits or vertical
shafts of small section are sunk. In such deposits, there are variations in
compositions, especially marked with depth than horizontal extent. The pits
should be regularly distributed as to cut uniformly across the greatest variations.
The sides of the pits shall be supported for retaining vertical walls necessary to
secure a uniform yield from top to bottom.
7. DRILL SAMPLING: A single pit although yields better samples than a single
drill hole, it is preferable to perform drill sampling because at the same cost, many
more points can be tested by drilling than by sinking pits. Ex: sampling in flat
deposits. Drill holes shall be located with regularity, close enough to average the
irregularities of the deposit and the drilling must be done with care.
8. Large scale sampling: In case of erratic ores, especially those containing
metallics (native gold, silver, copper, rich minerals), the average occurrence of
which can be determined only by handling large amounts, large scale samples of
many tons are taken/drawn. These may be obtained by mining from the entire
exposure a sufficient, uniform thickness to furnish the desired amount. Miniature
stopes of fixed size may also be made, and at regular intervals. Judgment and care
must be exercised in this work.
9. INTERVAL SAMPLING: It involves cutting of channels at regular intervals
along the length of the exposure. To secure accurate average, the intervals must be
small enough relative to irregularity in composition and value of exposure. This
will ensure proper representations in the samples of any considerable irregularity
or erratic occurrence of the rich spots.
a. Channels cut in a flat surface for combination into one sample must be
equidistant, of equal length (or of full width of exposure) and of uniform
depth and width, to yield a constant quantity per linear meter of channel.
b. Precautions: At the place of cutting channels, the ore surface is made free
from dust , foreign matter, and any decomposition, which may change the
character of minerals since first exposed. Dirt/ dust is removed by wire-
brushing, washing with water. Decomposed matter must be chipped off
from the surface.
10. CHIP SAMPLING: For unstratified rock masses which possess hard, tough and
close-grained composition, the channel cutting exercise is extremely difficult. In
such cases, the sampling line is followed along which the chipping operation is
performed. A proper proportion of coarse and fines must be secured from each
point of chipping, and the number and size of chips determined in accordance
with the irregularities of the exposure.
11. GRAB SAMPLING: In this sampling, several random pieces are taken as
samples by grabbing. The value of dump surface may be determined with as
much accuracy as desired by making the “grabs” at regular, and closely-spaced
intervals, securing at each point the proper proportion of coarse and fines.
12. Underground Sampling : Underground mineral exposures are sampled by
interval-channeling and chipping. Large mass of samples is a requisite for such
cases. Prior inspection is needed to understand the peculiarities of the deposit;
fresh fractures using pick may be done for inspection. Sample interval of 1m to
1.5m is acceptable. For precious metals, sample interval shall be as small as
possible.
HANDLING THE SAMPLES
1. Sample tagging: A short description recording details of sampling is written on
paper and then the sample is wrapped around and placed in a container. If jute
sack is used, marking is made on its surface.
2. Sample Containers: The sacks should be immediately sealed and kept under lock
and key.
a. When moisture or other volatile matter is to be determined, samples
should be taken on a rubber sheet. They are carries in scre-top galvanized
tine cans which are hermetically sealed by screwing the top, or by binding
the joint with several layers of adhesive tape. Corrosive solids are carried
in glass jars with glass tops.
3. Field Notes: It comprises of date of sampling, name, connection with other
samples, information regarding the day’s work. As each sample is obtained, the
data regarding it is recorded as per table below. Also, full description of the
sample itself, exact location with reference to survey/established point, length and
character of cut, and any peculiarities of deposit or workings noted at or near the
point sampled.
Table: Field Note Book Observations
Mine ……………… Level ………………… Date …………...
Working Place …………………………………. Sampler ………..
Loc Section Sample
Assay
S. No. Dist Remarks
Formation Width No Width Value
from
4. Assay Maps: Permanent recording of sampling results is done on a tracing map
of the mine, entering the sampling locations thereon by dot or line, and writing the
number, assay, or value of each sample alongside its location. These maps serve
best in studying the results in relation to each other and to the property as a whole.
SALTING
It is the process of intentionally or unintentionally raising the value of a sample above
that of the exposure sampled.
The common causes are:
(i) Vendors enriching the value of a Sale
(ii) Sampling errors: preparation of samples from ore exposures, limiting the
samples to those exposures which show high values.
(iii) Blasting rich ore, placing them in piles prevailing all across the mine. A
sample drawn from these piles will yield higher assay value.
(iv) Stopping a heading while it happens in good values and then drawing
samples. The other possibility may be a loss of value when the same heading
may be encountering still higher mineral assay.
(v) Contamination may also occur when the sample is handled by unskilled
persons, (not eligible to handle the stock). Local miners can readily salt them
by adding valuable mineral.
(vi) Misleading results may be produced unintentionally.
(vii) Syringe injection of valuable solutions through the cloth of sack is an easy
method of salting.
(viii) During coning and quartering process, samples can be lent to salting by
adding concentrated values from persons belongings/ body parts (hair, nails,
clothing), tobacco ashes, etc.
The best method to prevent intentional salting is to carry the whole process with
confidential assistants.
SAMPLING CHECKS, ERROR IN SAMPLING
1. Checks on accuracy should be made for both Sampling and Assaying.
2. When possible, erratic samples should be retaken with special precaution against
inaccuracy and contamination.
3. Certain samples should be assayed in duplicate for verification.
4. Duplicates refer to the rejects of the last reduction in sample preparation.
5. Assays for duplicates may also be sent to a different assayer.
6. Provided the Assaying is accurate, the averages obtained from duplicates should
also show reasonable agreement.
7. As in the case of interval sampling, the average of alternate samples should
closely agree with that of the intervening samples; the greater the number of
samples the closer should the averages agree.
8. Precaution is taken against over-valuation of samples/ores . Elimination of high
erratic values and substituting them with the average of two adjacent samples is
practiced. However, if there are enough erratic values to affect the result, then
such samples may be included in the assaying and valuation.
9.
