Gold particle clustering: A new consideration in sampling applications

Transactions of the Institutions of Mining and Metallurgy, Section B: Applied Earth Science

Volumn 116, Issue 3, 2007, Pages 130-142

  Dominy, S C ^a,b   Platten, I M ^a  

^a Snowden Mining Industry Consultants Ltd   (United Kingdom)

^b UNIVERSITY OF BALLARAT   (Australia)

Author keywords

Fundamental sampling error; Gold particle sizing; Gold sampling; Heterogeneity; Particle clustering; Sampling optimisation

Indexed keywords

COARSENING; ERROR ANALYSIS; GOLD; OPTIMIZATION; PARTICLE SIZE ANALYSIS; PARTICLES (PARTICULATE MATTER); SAMPLING;

COARSE GOLD DEPOSITS; FUNDAMENTAL SAMPLING ERROR; GOLD PARTICLE CLUSTERING; GOLD PARTICLE SIZING; GOLD SAMPLING; SAMPLING OPTIMISATION;

GOLD DEPOSITS;

GOLD; HETEROGENEITY; OPTIMIZATION; PARTICLE SIZE; SAMPLING;

EID: 35548952147     PISSN: 03717453     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1179/174327507X207474     Document Type: Article

References (32)

1. S. Cossio, J. L. Noyoba, P. Gonzalez and R. Espinosa: 'Sampling and assaying of coarse gold at La Herradura, Mexico', CIM Bull., 2004, November/December, 1-5.
2. S. C. Dominy, R. F. G. Phelps and G. S. Canim: 'Geological controls on gold grade distribution in Chidlaw Link Zone, Gwynfynydd mine, Dolgellau, North Wales', Trans. Inst. Min. Metall. B, 1996, 105B, B151-B158.
3. S. C. Dominy: 'Sampling and estimation of gold deposits', Research Report, University of Greenwich, England and Welsh Gold PLC, Wales, UK, 1997.
4. S. C. Dominy: 'Fundamental sampling error and its relationship to the nugget effect in gold deposits', Proc. EGRU Mining and Resource Geology Symp., James Cook University, Townsville, Australia, April 2004, EGRU Contribution No. 62, 30-45.
5. S. C. Dominy: 'Sampling - a critical component to gold project evaluation', Proc. Project Evaluation Conf., Melbourne, Australia, June 2007, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 89-96.
6. S. C. Dominy, A. E. Annels, G. F. Johansen and B. W. Cuffley: 'General considerations of sampling and assaying in a coarse gold environment', Trans. Inst. Min. Metall. B, 2000, 109B, B145-B167.
7. S. C. Dominy, G. F. Johansen, B. W. Cuffley, I. M. Platten and A. E. Annels : 'Estimation and reporting of mineral resources for coarse gold-bearing veins', Explor. Min. Geol., 2001, 9, (1), 13-42.
8. S. C. Dominy, G. F. Johansen and A. E. Annels: 'Bulk sampling and its role in the grade evaluation of free gold-bearing quartz reefs', Trans. Inst. Min. Metall. B, 2001, 110, B176-B191.
9. S. C. Dominy, I. M. Platten and M. D. Raine: 'Grade and geological continuity in high-nugget effect gold-quartz reefs: implications for resource estimation and reporting', Trans. Inst. Min. Metall. B, 2003, 112B, B239-B259.
10. S. C. Dominy, A. E. Annels, I. M. Platten and M. D. Raine: 'A review of problems and challenges in the resource estimation of high nugget effect lode-gold deposits', Proc. 5th Int. Mining Geology Conf., Bendigo, Australia, August 2003, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 279-298.
11. S. C. Dominy and G. F. Johansen: 'Reducing grade uncertainty in high-nugget effect gold veins - application of geological and geochemical proxies', Proc. of the PACRIM 2004 Cong., Adelaide, Australia, September 2004, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 291-302.
12. S. C. Dominy, B. W. Cuffley, P. L. McCarthy, O. K. Thomas and R. L. Hill: 'The challenges of evaluating and exploiting gold-quartz reefs in the Central Victorian Goldfield, Australia', Proc. New Leaders Conf., Ballarat, Australia, April 2004, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 121-141.
13. S. C. Dominy and J. S. Petersen: 'Sampling coarse gold-bearing mineralization - developing effective protocols and a case study from the Nalunaq Deposit, Southern Greenland, Proc. 2nd World Conf. on 'Sampling and blending', Sunshine Coast, Australia, July 2005, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 151-165.
14. S. C. Dominy, E. J. Sides, O. Dahl and I. M. Platten: 'Estimation and exploitation in an underground narrow vein gold operation - Nalunaq Mine, Greenland', Proc. 6th Int. Mining Geology Conf., Darwin, Australia, August 2006, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 29-44.
15. R. Garnsey: 'Ore reserves and reconciliation in an orebody containing coarse gold', Proc. 2nd Int. Mining Geology Conf., Kalgoorlie, Australia, July 1993, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 207-212.
16. D. M. François-Bongarçon: 'Geostatistical determination of sample variances in the sampling of broken gold ore', CIM Bull., 1991, 84, (950), 46-84.
17. D. M. François-Bongarçon and P. M. Gy: 'The most common error in applying "Gy's Formula" in the theory of mineral sampling and the history of the Liberation factor', in 'Mineral resource and ore reserve estimation - the AusIMM guide to good practice', 67-72; 2001, Melbourne, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
18. P. M. Gy: 'Sampling of particulate materials - theory and practice', 431; 1982, Amsterdam, Elsevier Scientific.
19. P. M. Gy: 'Sampling of heterogeneous and dynamic material systems - theories of heterogeneity, sampling and homogenizing', 652; 1992, Amsterdam, Elsevier Scientific.
20. G. F. Johansen and S. C. Dominy: 'Development of sampling and assaying protocols at the New Bendigo Gold Project, Victoria, Australia', Proc. 2nd World Conf. on 'Sampling and blending', Sunshine Coast, Australia, July 2005, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 175-183.
21. G. S. Koch and R. F. Link: 'Sampling gold ore by diamond drilling in the Homestake Mine, Lead, South Dakota', Report RI-7508, United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines Report of Investigation, 1971.
22. O. P. Kreuzer, S. C. Dominy, I. M. Platten and M. D. Raine: 'Ore controls and grade distribution in the Charters Towers Goldfield', Proc. Symp. on 'Applied structural geology for mineral exploration and mining', Kalgoorlie, Australia, September 2002, Australian Institute of Geoscientists, 96-99.
23. F. F. Pitard: 'Pierre Gy's sampling theory and sampling practice', 488; 1993, Boca Raton, CRC Press.
24. F. F. Pitard: 'Sampling correctness: a comprehensive guide', Proc. 2nd World Conf. on 'Sampling and blending', Sunshine Coast, Australia, July 2005, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 55-66.
25. I. M. Platten and S. C. Dominy: 'The occurrence of high-grade gold pockets in quartz reefs at the Gwynfynydd Mine, Wales, United Kingdom: a geological explanation of the nugget effect', Explor. Min. Geol., 2003, 10, 249-272.
26. L. S. Roberts, S. C. Dominy and M J Nugus: 'Problems of sampling and assaying in mesothermal lode-gold deposits - case studies from Australia and North America', Proc. 5th Int. Mining Geology Conf., Bendigo, Australia, August 2003, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 387-400.
27. A. G. Royle: 'Splitting gold assay pulps containing coarse gold particles', Leeds Univ. Mining Assoc. J., 1989, 63-68.
28. J. B. P. Sawyer: 'Assaying in resource evaluation: the need for a clear and open mind', in 'Case histories and methods in mineral resource evaluation', 37-45; 1992, London, Geological Society of London, Special Publication No. 63.
29. D. A. Sketchley: 'Gold deposits - establishing sampling protocols and monitoring quality control', Explor. Min. Geol., 1988, 7, 129-138.
30. J. Springer: 'Invisible gold', in 'The geology of gold in Ontario', 240-250; 1983, Ontario, Geological Survey.
31. O. K. Thomas: 'Paragenesis of the Nick O'Time shoot of the Poverty Reef, Tarnagulla, Central Victoria', BSc Honours thesis, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia, 1999.
32. R. Wooldridge: 'Sample preparation and assaying of coarse gold ores', Proc. AusIMM Ann. Conf., Mt Isa, Australia, April 1998, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 143-154.