Sampling Placer Deposits

A fine sample is a representative sample. Because of the variation of most placer deposit, each model should be representative of the area from where it was taken, and the normal of all the samples, representatives of the deposit. A courier sample must include all the material that lies among the lowest par of the area to be sample, and the highest part of the area .this contain sand, small gravel and larger rocks .The sample should contain an equal quantity of Material from the top to the base of the area .Rocks which are too large to put into the sample, but lie in the sample zone should be probable into the weight of the sample .Don’t throw anything out of the sample.

The first sampling will be description of the whole placer deposit. Following certain information is from this sampling program, more exact sampling of certain areas may yield more exact information. Sample size is very important, especially when trading with a placer deposit. Larger samples will constantly give more precise results .Small samples of only a pound or two will frequently vary radically in the quantity of gold they hold, since of the nature of a placer deposit .2 small samples taken next too each other, may attempt at one dollar per ton and one thousand dollars per ton, equally, just because one ensue to have a larger piece of gold in it. Larger samples help normal these variation, and usually yield more consistent results. A fine placer sample should weight at least 50 pounds.

Larger samples are attractive, but may be limited by the process of which the samples will be determined. A good sampling program may give you a exact answer to the financial reality of working your placer .It may also show what process will be best used, what equipment will be most successful, which cover of the deposit may be more affluent and which may have no worth ,where the hot spots of the placer are located ,and where the reduced areas are placed.

Still, an exact decision often cannot be made after the first test. More sampling may be wanted, or a larger scale sampling program may be set up right on the site. Some hundred yards of placer substance put through a sluice box on the site mean a good sample and should answer several questions. The conclusion of the sampling program is not a final indication. These conclusion must be associate with equipment costs ,water availability ,access to the deposit ,contamination problems which may happen ,royalty costs if any ,and other financial factors .But a good sampling program does give the best figure to put against these cost factors in determining if the deposit can be worked for a profit