Geochemistry Guide 2025

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Miscellaneous procedures

Particle size analysis

CODE

ANALYTE CODE G_WSH_CRU G_WSH_PUL

DESCRIPTION

SGS offers particle size analysis by wet screening, dry screening, a combination of both, or laser diffraction. Particle size analysis is used to determine the size classification of tills, sediments or ores or toproduce sized fractions for additional testing/analysis. Depending upon the nature of the material, dry screening, wet screening or a combination of both can be used. Wet screening is preferable to dry screening for materials containing a high percentage of clays. Dry screen tests are best for free flowing samples with the particles separated (i.e. unagglomerated). Often wet and dry methods are combined. Wet screening is performed to remove excessive fines then dry screening is performed to remove the oversize. Laser diffraction is recommended for very fine grained samples, as it is capable of measuring particle sizes at very low limits (0.02 microns). Laser diffraction is suitable for use with both wet and dry samples.

G_WSH G_WSH G_PRP G_RAD G_PRP G_PRP G_QRT

Barren wash after crushing stage Barren wash after pulverizing stage

PRP_COM

Compositing samples

Radiation monitoring using scintillation counter

PRP_EN PRP_EN2

Radioactive preparation environment Asbestos preparation environment Sample quarantine and handling

Moisture and loss on ignition (LOI) Many materials contain volatile components and/or moisture. SGS has a variety of tests, including moisture (H2O), loss on ignition (LOI) (at various temperatures) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), that provide reliable and quantitative analyses of these parameters.

G_PHY15V G_PHY16V

Particle size, sieve analysis (dry or wet)

Particle size, laser diffraction

MOISTURE (H 2 O) CODE

ELEMENT

LIMIT(S) ≥ 0.1% ≥ 0.01% ≥ 0.1%

DESCRIPTION

H 2 O- H 2 O- H 2 O-

Bulk, Gravimetric determination at 105ºC Pulp, Gravimetric determination at 105ºC

G_PHY03V G_PHY04V G_PHY05V

Penfield tube

LOSS ON IGNITION (LOI) CODE

ELEMENT

LIMIT(S)

DESCRIPTION

G_PHY01V G_PHY02V

LOI LOI

-10 - 100% -50 - 100%

Gravimetric determination at 1000ºC Multi-point TGA determinations

Moisture and LOI can be determined at other temperatures. Please enquire.

Specific gravity and bulk density Specific gravity (SG) is the density of a material relative to water or air and is expressed as a dimensionless number. It is normally measured by the gas pycnometer method on pulp samples and amounts to the average SG of the mineral particles making up the rock or ore. Bulk density is the average SG of the minerals comprising a rock plus the void space (from vugs, pores, etc.) and is measured by the water immersion method on fist sized rock samples or core. Samples are waxed if there is significant porosity. If the rock samples are competent waxing may not be necessary. Bulk density (BD) along with grade and volume is an extremely important parameter in calculating tonnages for Mineral Resource estimates or ore reserves, which are critical for economic evaluation of mineral deposits. Inadequate BD measurements are often at the root of errors in ore estimates with financial consequences for projects. Use high quality specific gravity, bulk density and grain size physical property data from SGS for robust Resource Estimate calculations and in developing mineral processing flow sheets.

G_PHY06V G_PHY08V G_PHY17V G_PHY18V

Specific gravity - pycnometer Specific gravity - volumetric

Bulk density - waxed

Bulk density - immersion, non-waxed

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