The Theory of Sampling

Sampling is known to be one of the easiest but at the same time most complicated issues when it comes to mining. Sampling is considered a simple thing because of the fact that all that needs to be done is the gathering of material that does not involve the same type of physical labor that the actual mining involves. However sampling is also considered complicated because there are many rules that have to be followed in a precise way and if they are not done they can result in salting or leaning. If a sample has been salted, a great deal of money and time can be wasted in trying to obtain and get valuables out that do not actually exist in the amount the sample shows there is. If it is leaned a valuable lode or outcrop could be abandoned since it looks like it is barren when it might not be the case.

There are some prospectors that are simply out for the pleasure of finding precious metals or minerals and do not usually get involved in sampling the minerals in order to see if a deposit can be a commercial thing that can be exploited. Most of the information we are going to be providing will have to do with sampling outcrops and placers only to be able to see if they are worth working on a limited amount in order to get a good amount of precious metals and minerals in comparison to the time that a person would spend on mining it. Just remember that if the samples you do find end up being very rich, you should always go and get information from a geologist or a mining engineer after you have claimed the property or have gotten a lease so that the profits that you obtained are accrued to the prospector.

Sampling just has to do with the process of gathering representative quantities of ore in a way so that it can be tested to provide an indication of the richness of the placer or lode it was obtained from. There are a couple problems associated to sampling though, and these include: Getting the ore from equally mineralized areas together, and mixing and separating the ore so that a delegated sample can be obtained. It is not possible to obtain perfection in sampling and this means that all sampling is a compromise. If the rules are followed it will rule out the possibility of making a big mistake and this is why sampling is done to begin with.