SAMPLING, ANALYSIS & LAB ASSAY
Scan by Veracio has been driving efficiency and intelligent exploration strategies at Northisle Copper and Gold Inc’ s North Island project in British Columbia, Canada
high degree of expertise and necessitates the use of lead fluxes and the requisite safety measures. The hot plate digestion method used for copper to decompose a solid sample into a liquid state also requires multiple steps and takes hours to complete.
ColdBlock says it has a method that can compete with this multi-stage status quo through a digestion route that uses focused, short-wave infrared heating and a cooling zone to dissolve solid sample matter into solution.
ColdBlock’ s Strong Acid Digestion Method has been tested against a range of certified reference materials( CRMs) from African Mineral Standards, CDN labs, Geostats and OREAS. This work shows excellent comparison to certified 4-Acid Digestion results for all CRMs, across all elements of interest including base metals, rare earth elements, battery metal elements like lithium, as well as radioactive elements like uranium and thorium, ColdBlock says. It also requires just 30-40 minutes for accurate analysis, versus the 2-4 hours for traditional 4-Acid Digestion.
ColdBlock’ s aqua regia digestion methods for gold analysis, meanwhile, take less than 20 minutes, and ColdBlock digesters can accommodate samples sizes up to 30 grams, the company claims. These methods have been confirmed with testing on over a dozen different CRMs and are being used around the world – including numerous leading global commercial laboratories.
SGS says it is among the first companies with geochemistry laboratories to implement ColdBlock digestion technology, noting these benefits:
• Rapid sample digestion: Significantly reduces processing time, enabling quicker delivery of analytical results;
• Improved accuracy: Ensures controlled and consistent digestion for more reliable data;
• Higher throughput: Increases the volume of samples processed without compromising quality;
• Enhanced safety: Minimises exposure to hazardous fumes and reduces risk for laboratory personnel; and
• Eco-friendly: The energy-efficient digestion technology avoids the use of some of the most toxic reagents and emits less fumes, supporting SGS’ s sustainability goals.
“ The adoption of ColdBlock technology marks a major milestone in our commitment to innovation and excellence,” SGS Global Chief Chemist for Geochemistry, Dr Ljiljana Marjanovic, says.“ It allows us to deliver superior quality results with faster turnaround times, while ensuring a safer and more sustainable working environment.”
On top of SGS’ recognition, some ColdBlock customers have reported that its digestion technique, followed by analysis using an ICP-MS, results in fast, accurate, repeatable results that has allowed them to reduce or eliminate their dependence on some dangerous acids.“ They report significantly shorter turnaround times and a circa-50 % reduction in cost per sample,” ColdBlock says.
These cost savings can be even greater in a polymetallic precious / base metal mining operation where two methods are normally run – fire assay for gold and hot plate digestion for base metals, it added.
Forward-looking assaying
Also independently reviewed by SGS is Chrysos Corp’ s PhotonAssay™ assaying technology, which was recently the subject of a GHD-authored report to benchmark the
ColdBlock digestion uses focused, short-wave infrared heating and a cooling zone to dissolve solid sample matter into solution
78 International Mining | FEBRUARY 2026