Geochemistry Guide 2025

house

house

Gold, platinum, palladium and other precious metals

Battery metals / critical metals

EXPLORATION GRADE ANALYSIS GOLD, PLATINUM AND PALLADIUM CODE

Minerals and metals that are supporting climate change and the energy transition

ELEMENT

LIMIT(S)

DESCRIPTION

GE_FAI30V5/FAI50V5*

Au

1 - 10,000 ppb 10 - 10,000 ppb 1 - 10,000 ppb 1 - 2,000 ppb 0.5 - 2,000 ppb 0.5 - 2,000 ppb 5 - 10,000 ppb 10 - 10,000 ppb 5 - 10,000 ppb

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

Pt

Copper Copper can occur as oxide, sulphide and metallic forms in mineral deposits and metallurgical products so there are a variety of different analytical techniques available. EXPLORATION GRADE COPPER METHODS CODE(S) LIMIT(S) DESCRIPTION GE_ICP21B20 0.5 ppm - 1% Aqua regia – ICP-OES GE_IMS21B20 0.5 ppm - 1% Aqua regia – ICP-MS GE_ICP40Q12 0.5 ppm - 1% 4-Acid digest – ICP-OES GE_ICP90A50 10 ppm - 5% Fusion – ICP-OES

Pd

GE_FAM30V5/FAM50V5 Au

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

Pt

Pd Au

GE_FAI31V5/FAI51V5

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

Pt

Pd

ORE-GRADE ANALYSIS GOLD, PLATINUM AND PALLADIUM CODE GO_FAI30V10/FAI50V10 Au

ELEMENT

LIMIT(S)

DESCRIPTION

0.01 - 100 ppm 0.01 - 100 ppm 0.01 - 100 ppm

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

Pt

ORE-GRADE COPPER METHODS CODE(S)

Pd

LIMIT(S)

DESCRIPTION

GO_ICP21B100 GO_ICP42Q100 GO_ICP90Q100

0.01 - 30% 0.01 - 30% 0.01 - 30%

Aqua regia digest – ICP-OES 4-Acid digest – ICP-OES Sodium peroxide Fusion/ICP-OES

PROCESS CONTROL ANALYSIS GOLD, PLATINUM AND PALLADIUM CODE

ELEMENT

LIMIT(S)

DESCRIPTION

GC_FAI35V10

Au

0.02 ppm - 20% 0.02 ppm - 20% 0.02 ppm - 20% 0.02 ppm - 20% 0.02 ppm - 20% 0.02 ppm - 20%

Variable wt, Fire assay, ICP-OES finish

CONCENTRATE-GRADE COPPER METHODS CODE(S)

Pt

LIMIT(S) 15 - 60% 5 - 95%

DESCRIPTION

Pd Au

GC_CON13V GC_CON03V*

Short iodide titration Electrogravimetry

GC_FAA35V10

Variable wt, Fire assay, AAS finish

Pt

* These methods can be done at party or umpire quality.

Pd

MINERAL SELECTIVE COPPER METHODS CODE(S)

PLATINUM GROUP ELEMENTS CODE

LIMIT(S)

DESCRIPTION

≥ 0.002% ≥ 0.001% ≥ 0.001% ≥ 0.001% ≥ 0.001% ≥ 0.001%

GC_AAS70D200 GC_AAS71C50 GC_AAS74C50 GC_AAS75D100 GC_AAS01D250 GC_ASQ01D50 GC_ASQ02D100 GC_ASQ03D50

Cu oxide method, citric acid leach, AAS

ELEMENT

LIMIT(S)

DESCRIPTION

≥ 0.02 ppm ≥ 0.02 ppm ≥ 0.02 ppm ≥ 0.02 ppm ≥ 0.02 ppm

GC_FAI41V10

Au

Cu H 2 SO 4 soluble, AAS Cu acetic acid soluble, AAS

Pt

30 g, Fire assay nickel sulphide collection, ICP-OES

Pd Rh Ru

CN soluble Cu, AAS

Metallic Cu, AgNO 3 digest, AAS

Sequential Cu leach (H 2 SO 4 soluble Cu, Cyanide soluble Cu, residual Cu), AAS

Ir ≥ 0.13 ppm This method is not available in all SGS laboratories; please contact your SGS customer service agent.

CODE

ELEMENT

LIMITS

DESCRIPTION

GC_FAM42V10

Pt

0.02 ppm 0.02 ppm 0.02 ppm 0.05 ppm

30 g, Fire assay nickel sulphide collection, ICP-MS

Pd Rh Ru

Ir 0.02 ppm This method is not available in all SGS laboratories. Samples can be analyzed for Osmium by neutron activation. Please contact your SGS customer service agent

IMAGE HERE

34

35

Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker