What is a sample?

• A sample is a finite part of a statistical population

whose properties are studied to gain information about
the whole (Webster, 1985).

What is sampling?
Sampling is the act, process, or technique of selecting
a suitable sample, or a representative part of a
population for the purpose of determining parameters
or characteristics of the whole population.

This is achieved by taking samples from natural exposures,

bore holes and mine openings.
 Introduction
• Sampling methods vary from simple grab
samples on existing exposures to sophisticated
drilling methods.

• As a rule, the surface of the mineralization is

obscured by various types of overburden, or it
is weathered and leached to some depth,
thereby obscuring the nature of the
mineralization."
 Objective Based Sampling
• Sampling may be chemical, mineralogical, technical and
technological.
• 1. Chemical: Samples are taken for determining the content of useful and
secondary components.
• 2. Mineralogical: It is done to ascertain the mineral and petrographical
composition of the mineral. It helps to establish the origin of the deposit,
the dependences governing grade variations and also to plan the ore
dressing and beneficiation.
• 3. Technical: Samples are taken to study the technical properties of the
raw material, which does not require metallurgical or chemical treatment.
The factors are strength and flexibility of fibres; mica – the size; sand and
gravel – grain size distribution.
• 4. Technological: Samples are collected for the study of the
technological properties of the raw material in the course of its
beneficiation and processing.
• The process of sampling falls into several stages

1. Collecting samples,
2. Their processing,
3. Laboratory studies of the sample (assaying),
4. Analysis/Interpretation of the laboratory
findings.
Sampling During Large-scale and Detailed Mapping

i) to identify and pigeon-hole the rock type;

ii) to gain an understanding of geological events;
iii) in laying plans for more thorough sampling;
iv) to delineate and narrow down mineralized
zone; and
v) to elucidate the type and nature of
mineralization and for possible extension
along strike and at depth
 Types of Sampling
(i) spot samples;
(ii) serial samples to test hypotheses;
(iii) sampling to find variations;
(iv) sampling for bulk composition; and
(v) sampling for distribution of compositions.
 SAMPLING OF ORE MINERALS
• Grade of a mineral and metal values vary in
proportion from one place to another.
• One single sample taken from one part of the ore
body generally does not provide a representative
picture of the grade of the entire ore body
• Some degree of error between the actual value and
the value computed from the samples.
• The aim of sampling is only to reduce the error to
the minimum possible level.
SAMPLING OF ORE MINERALS
• Sampling also reveals the pattern of
mineralisation within the ore richer and
leaner ore portions.
• The limits of mineralisation towards both
the hanging and footwall contacts can
also be precisely defined by careful
sampling.
• Determine the processing the
extractability characteristics of the ore
 PRINCIPLES OF SAMPLING
True representative of the entire ore body.
It is necessary to choose proper places for sampling.
Different samples collected from various parts of the ore body
can be combined into a single composite sample to give the most
representative picture of the whole ore body.
This is never done because it is also necessary to know the
average grade of the rich and lean portions or the ore body
separately. Samples are spaced at regular intervals
The actual intervals cannot be determined arbitrarily, but have to
be arrived at based on the experience gained in similar deposits in
the past
Any interval which minimizes the error is justified in sampling.
Fixed minimum width or their multiples for each sample,
depending upon the complexity of value distribution visualized
 TYPES OF SAMPLING
• Grab Sampling
• Chip Sampling
• Channel Sampling
• Bulk Sampling
• Dump Sampling
• Trench Sampling
• Pit Sampling
 GRAB SAMPLING
Grab sampling is done at random over the
mineralized zone on account of certain distinct
features such colour, texture, weight or any other
striking feature.

Analysis of grab sample gives a preliminary idea

about the nature and grade of the ore mineral.

However it is not representative of any large

volume or bulk of the deposit.
 GRAB SAMPLING
• Richards – Chechette formula
Q = KD²
• Where Q = the reliable weight of the worked down (also initial )
sample in Kg.
• D = the diameter of the largest particle in the sample in mm, and
• K =a factor depending on the homogeneity of the mineral.
• The values of k which may be used in most cases

Ore type Value of k

Homogenous 0.05
Non-homogenous 0.10
Very non-homogenous 0.20 to 0.30
Extremely nonhomogeneous 0.40 to 0.50
 CHIP SAMPLING
Chip sampling is done for rapid assessment to determine
general grade of deposit.
Chip samples are collected at suitable intervals, in equal size
and weight, along a line covering the width of the mineralized
zone.
The sample chipped along a line should be suitably sub-divided
based on nature of ore and grade variation of the deposit.
 CHANNEL SAMPLING
• It consists of cutting across the mineralized zone,
collecting resultant material like chips, dust, etc and
combining them together to form one sample.

• Channel cutting is to be along the direction of maximum

variability and is normal to the planar surface of the
mineral zone disposition, which usually coincides with
the thickness of the ore body.

• Normally, channels are 3 to 6 cm wide and 1 cm thick.

 BULK SAMPLING
• Bulk sampling is done in two specific cases. One situation
is when a pilot plant test is to be done on an ore determined
accurately
• Bulk samples may be made by collecting a portion from
every blast continuously, or from shovels or cars in the case
of mines. Bulk samples may be collected from a series of
pits or number of trenches, adits or underground drives in
the case of prospects
• For technological studies covering laboratory scale
benefaction tests, the bulk sample may be 100 to 250 kg. In
weight .In some complex ores, upto 1000 kg. May be
necessary whereas for pilot plant tests 50 tons of material
would be usually required
 DUMP SAMPLING
• Dump sampling can be done by systematically
driving auger into the dumps and collecting the
augured material.
• Benches may be prepared on the dumps and,
from the benches, pits can be drived to collect
samples.
• If a shovels is available,. Shovels can be
deployed to take out representative bulk
samples
 SELECTION OF SAMPLING METHOD
When the ore body is thick and the values of
mineralisation are uniformly distributed, sampling can be
done by chip or grab sampling.

• When the ore body is of medium size and mineralisation is

uniform, a combine chip and channel sampling will give
the best results.

• Where the ore body is too thin but occurs in benches or

layers, sampling of various layers can be done by chip
sampling.
 SELECTION OF SAMPLING METHOD
When a deposit is of very large dimension, it becomes
necessary to collect a large number of samples. In such
cases, a large number of chip samples would give reliable
results. Here, the quicker and not necessarily the most
accurate method should be preferred.
• With minerals like gold, rare metals, etc . Where values
are too spotty and irregular, bulk sampling would give
the best results.
• Wherever the ore is banded, channel sampling would give
the best results, and very hard ore, particularly massive
types of iron ore, would require to be sampled by blast
hole cuttings
 Surface Sampling Methods
• Near-surface samples can be collected with a
spade, scoop
• Sampling at greater depths or below a water
column may require a hand auger, coring
device, or dredge.
• As the sampling depth increases, the use of a
powered device may be necessary to push the
sampler into the soil or sediment layers.
 Surface Sampling

The soil sample pit The alluvial horizons at the

floodplain sediment sampling
 Sampling of Exploratory Bore Holes

sampling material comes from the core, core and sludge, and
sludge

Core Recovery (C.R.) = l/L * 100%

Where l = length of the core, and L
= bore hole length
 SAMPLING ERRORS

RANDOM SYSTAMATIC
 RANDOM ERRORS
• When check samples are taken from the same
spot, there will be natural divergence between
the value of the principal sample and the
control sample. This cannot be overcome.
•
• Errors accumulated due to measurement errors,
poor facilities and equipment, and poor eye
judgment of the sampler
SYSTEMATICAL ERRORS

• Errors due to mistaken of calculations,

misprints and poor numbering

• Limitations of the assay technique itself

 TESTING OF SAMPLES
• Assay of useful constituents and harmful ingredients.
• Mineralogical investigations to ascertain mineral
composition, grain size, texture and structure.
• Semi-quantitative spectral analysis to determine all
the elements present in the ore.
• Technological tests to establish the most efficient
method for treating the mineral.
• Tests to determine certain physical properties of the
mineral to establish the grade and mining methods
and to estimate the reserves
 LABORATORY-SCALE
EXAMINATION
• Testing physical characteristics
• Petrological tests
• Chemical analysis
• X-ray and spectroscopic and other method