SAMPLING , ANALYSIS AND LAB ASSAY
“ For precious metals , the sample size required for representative results is normally larger than what is required in the base metals sector ,” he said . “ This is one of the reasons why fire assay methods have been preferred . Our large Pro Series units can digest the same size sample as is used with fire assay , and subsequent analysis can result in muti-element analysis – not just gold results – in less than half the time for about half the cost .”
In addition , the new Pro Series digesters also have a new PC / tablet-based software interface that provides the ability to program and save digestion methods for repeat use , as well as a logging program to keep track of work in the lab .
West says he has been seeing increased interest from the mining sector of late : “ The enormous assay backlog seen over the past few years , compounded by significant inflationary pressures on laboratory consumables and operations , has only served to highlight the importance of implementing a faster , less expensive assaying process .”
Also , the potential for a significantly faster sample digestion process , a simple transition process from hot block to ColdBlock , and potential to reduce or eliminate the need for dangerous acids like perchloric acid has led some big commercial labs to look at ColdBlock , West said .
“ Several global labs are now planning the roll out of ColdBlock across their operations ,” he said .
The company has also already sold units to some of the top-10 copper and gold mining companies and is seeing growing demand from polymetallic , lithium , uranium and fertilizerfocused miners as well .
He concluded : “ As we announce some of the roll outs with global labs and top mining companies this year , we are preparing for broader adoption of ColdBlock within the mining sector .”
Dispelling assaying dogma
Having successfully bridged the gap between the new technology development and mining industry adoption and acceptance , Chrysos Corporation is now looking at how it can strategically deploy PhotonAssay in the highest value applications across the sector .
A spinout of CSIRO , Australia ’ s national science agency , Chrysos has made significant inroads in the precious metals assaying space in the last half decade , disrupting a market that is used to defaulting to fire assay methods for verifying precious metal concentration values .
It has done this through a careful rollout of its PhotonAssay technology , which is billed as slashing the time it takes to analyse a drilling sample from days to hours using high-power X- rays to activate and measure gold atoms in mineral samples . These much higher energy X- rays allow true bulk measurements of large samples independent of their physical or chemical form , the company says .
Both commercial laboratories and sizeable inhouse facilities owned by mining companies have been proving Chrysos ’ claims , leading to wider market adoption and , in some instances , a wholesale shift from the incumbent fire assay process to PhotonAssay analysis .
“ We ’ re seeing the industry get more comfortable with the technology because we already have the big laboratories and miners behind us ,” Dirk Treasure , Chrysos Managing Director and CEO , told IM , referring to ALS , Intertek and MSALABS in the former category and Barrick Gold and Agnico Eagle Mines in the latter .
These frontrunners were encouraged to take the leap with PhotonAssay after reviewing a bank load of test work and a business model that both lowered the upfront expense associated with deployment and ensured the units were supported throughout their lifetime .
“ Our pay-per-sample business model does a couple of things for customers ,” Treasure said . “ First , it reduces the barrier to entry because customers no longer need to consider some capital expenditure if they have their own lab ; it is effectively an OPEX pricing mechanism .
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