Geochemistry Guide 2026

PROCESS CONTROL ANALYSIS

Battery metals / critical metals

Gold, platinum and palladium CODE

ELEMENT LIMIT(S)

DESCRIPTION

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

Au

Variable wt, Fire assay, ICP-OES finish

GC_FAI35V10

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

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.

Pd Au

Variable wt, Fire assay, AAS finish

GC_FAA35V10

Pt

Pd

Exploration grade copper methods CODE LIMIT(S)

Platinum group elements CODE

DESCRIPTION

ELEMENT LIMIT(S)

DESCRIPTION

Aqua regia – ICP-OES Aqua regia – ICP-MS 4-Acid digest – ICP-OES

GE_ICP21B20 GE_IMS21B20 GE_ICP40Q12 GE_ICP90A50

0.5 ppm - 1% 0.5 ppm - 1% 0.5 ppm - 1% 10 ppm - 5%

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

GC_FAI41V10

Au

≥ 0.02 ppm ≥ 0.13 ppm ≥ 0.02 ppm ≥ 0.02 ppm ≥ 0.02 ppm ≥ 0.02 ppm

Ir

Pd

Fusion – ICP-OES

Pt

Rh Ru

Ore-grade copper methods CODE

LIMIT(S)

DESCRIPTION

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

GO_ICP21B100 GO_ICP42Q100

0.01 - 30% 0.01 - 30%

Aqua regia digest – ICP-OES 4-Acid digest – ICP-OES

CODE

ELEMENT LIMIT(S)

DESCRIPTION

Ir

0.02 ppm 0.02 ppm 0.02 ppm 0.02 ppm 0.05 ppm

Concentrate-grade copper methods CODE LIMIT(S)

Pd

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

GC_FAM42V10

Pt

DESCRIPTION

Rh Ru

S hort iodide titratio n Electrogravimetry

GC_CON13V GC_CON03V*

15 - 60% 5 - 95%

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

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

Mineral selective copper methods CODE LIMIT(S)

DESCRIPTION

Cu oxide method, citric acid leach, AAS

GC_AAS70D200 GC_AAS71C50 GC_AAS74C50 GC_AAS75D100 GC_AAS01D250

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

Cu H2SO4 soluble, AAS Cu acetic acid soluble, AAS

CN soluble Cu, AAS

Metallic Cu, AgNO3 leach, AAS

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