Analitical Chemistry
The laboratory is set up and capable of assaying accurately for various types of minerals and/or metals using relevant analytical schemes specified as follows:
- Gold – Fire assaying, lead collection with ICP or gravimetric finish,
- PGMs – 4E Total: Fire assay Lead Collection with Gravimetric Finish,
- PGMs – 4E Individual elements: Fire assay Pb Collection with ICP-OES finish.
- PGMs – 6E: Fire assay NiS collection with ICP-OES finish.
- Base metals – Ni, Cu, Co: Peroxide fusion ICP OES finish.
- Base metals – Fe: Peroxide fusion ICP OES finish.
- Base metals – Cr: Peroxide fusion with ICP OES finish.
- Majors, rare earth metals etc: Pressed Pellet with XRF finish.
- Th & U: Pressed Pellet with XRF finish.
Proficiency testing participation
The Geo-analytical laboratory (an ISO/IEC compliant facility) actively participates in periodic proficiency testing schemes to constantly benchmark our competency with other market leaders. For more than a decade now, the laboratory constantly participates in the following proficiency testing schemes:
- Qotho (4E and Cr)
- PBI (PGM & Base Metal Exchange)
- AMIS and SARMS
Over the entire period, the analytical laboratory has performed exceptionally well scoring and continuously attaining ‘z’ scores within the acceptable range of-2 to +2.
Accreditation
The laboratory is working to restore its accreditation to the ISO 170025 standard which was temporarily terminated due to change of location of operation.