Geochemistry Guide 2026

Commodities

GO_XRF72 Borate fusion / WD XRF Whole rock package ANALYTE

REPORTED AS PACKAGE MAJORS PACKAGE-P PACKAGE MAJ/MIN

RANGE

Precious metals analysis Precious metals (gold, silver and the platinum group elements) can be analyzed and assayed by many techniques. Coupled with the many sample preparation options to ensure representative samples SGS sets the benchmark for reliable precious metal assays. Lower and upper reporting limits of a given method can vary slightly among SGS laboratories due to reagent quality, access to consumables and instrument availability. SGS offers a wide variety of select methods to analyze specific elements, species and/or groups of elements. These methods address specific circumstances that arise due to mineralogy, chemistry or commercial requirements. A selection of commonly requested methods are listed below by commodity type, but others are available. PhotonAssay Photon Assay is a non-destructive technology uses high-energy x-rays to hit samples of up to 500g, enabling rapid and enhanced analysis of gold, silver, copper and other elements. The technology is measurably safer, faster and more environmentally friendly than previous assay processes.

Al 2 O 3 As 2 O 3

X

X X X X X X X X

X

0.01 - 100% 0.01 - 5% 0.01 - 70% 0.01 - 5% 0.01 - 60% 0.01 - 30% 0.01 - 5%

Al

As Ba

Extension/Optional Oxide

BaO

X

X

Bi

Bi 2 O 3 CaO

Extension/Optional Oxide

Ca

X

X X X X X

Cl

Cl

Co

Co 3 O 4 Cr 2 O 3

Cr

0.01 - 5% 0.01 - 5% 0.5 - 50%

Cu

CuO

F

F

Extension/Optional Oxide

Fe Hf

Fe 2 O 3 HfO 2

X

X

X

0.01 - 100% 0.01 - 5% 0.01 - 70% 0.01 - 100% 0.01 - 100% 0.01 - 5% 0.01 - 60% 0.01 - 5% 0.01 - 55% 0.01 - 5% 0.01 - 5% 0.01 - 5% 0.01 - 100% 0.01 - 5% 0.01 - 10%

Extension/Optional Oxide

K

K 2 O

X X X

X X X X X X

X X X

Mg Mn Mo

MgO

Mn 3 O 4 MoO 3 Na 2 O NiO P 2 O 5 PbO Rb 2 O Sb 2 O 3

Extension/Optional Oxide

Na

X

X X X

Ni

P

X

Pb Rb Sb

Extension/Optional Oxide Extension/Optional Oxide Extension/Optional Oxide

CODE

ELEMENT

DESCRIPTION

DETECTION LIMITS

0.03 - 350 ppm 0.01 - 350 ppm

PAAU02 PAAU04* PAAU02H

Au Au Au Au Au Ag Cu Cu Cu

Standard Gold Analysis

Standard Gold Analysis, 4 cycle

Si

SiO 2 SnO 2

X

X X X X

X

High Gold Analysis

100 - 3,500 ppm (only used if over 350 ppm on PAAU02)

Sn

Extension/Optional Oxide

S

SO 3 SrO

X

X X

Extra High Gold Analysis

1,000 - 10,000 ppm

PAAU02HH PAAUAG02

Sr Ta Th

0.01 - 5% 0.01 - 5% 0.01 - 1%

Gold and Silver Analysis, Gold-Optimised

0.03 - 350 ppm 6 - 5,000 ppm

Ta 2 O 5 ThO 2 TiO 2 U 3 O 8 V 2 O 5 WO 3 ZnO ZrO 2

Extension/Optional Oxide Extension/Optional Oxide

Copper Analysis, Material-Agnostic** Copper Analysis, Material-Tailored***

0.1 - 4% X - 4% 2 - 30%

PACU01A PACU01 PACU01H

Ti U

X

X

X

0.01 - 100% 0.01 - 5% 0.01 - 10% 0.01 - 5% 0.01 - 5% 0.01 - 5% -10 -100%

Extension/Optional Oxide

High Copper Analysis

V

X

X

X

W Zn

Extension/Optional Oxide

*PAAU04 available if required for lower DL / increased precision. Scheme is setup with a floating detection limit. **Copper agnostic service can be offered to new clients for ad hoc work, noting the lower detection limit of 1,000ppm. If doing ongoing work, it is suggested they do the test work required to develop a material-tailored calibration. ***Copper material-tailored service is only available after test work is performed. Gold

X X X

X X X

Zr

LOI (10000C)*

X

Moisture (as received)

Optional

Optional

Optional

≥ 0.01%

*G_PHY01V or G_PHY02V Unmineralized whole rock analysis; for commodities and specific matrices refer to commodity section. Specialized whole rock XRF packages are available for mineral sands exploration programs. For Ferrous iron (FeO) see page 52.

EXPLORATION GRADE ANALYSIS

Fire assay gold CODE

ELEMENT

LIMIT(S)

DESCRIPTION

GE_FAA30V5/FAA50V5 GE_FAI30V5/FAI50V5 GE_FAI31V5/FAI51V5 GE_FAM30V5/FAM30V10 GE_FAM50V5/FAM50V10

Au

5 - 10,000 ppb 1- 10,000 ppb 5 - 10,000 ppb 1- 2,000 ppb 1- 2,000 ppb

30/50 g, Fire assay, AAS finish 30/50 g, Fire assay, ICP-OES finish 30/50 g, Fire assay, ICP-OES finish 30 g, Fire assay, ICP-MS finish 50 g, Fire assay, ICP-MS finish

Au** Au** Au** Au**

**Pt and Pd can be included. Gold in soils and/or sediments can be determined by aqua regia digest and DIBK extraction. This is a partial leach and can require a pre-treatment such as roasting if samples contain significant sulphur bearing phases.

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