Sample Preparation

Attention to detail at every step...

The sample preparation procedures utilised at Zarazma have been designed to follow an optimum size-reduction and sampling protocol, whilst minimising cross contamination. Samples are dried upon receipt, then jaw-crushed if necessary, before splitting to 500g for pulverisation in ring-and-puck mills to a nominal minus 75µm grind-size.

Pulveriser bowls are routinely cleaned with a charge of barren abrasive material between all samples. Two portions of the pulverised material are taken and placed into paper sample packets. One is used for analysis, and the other kept for future reference if required.

Sorting: Where samples are submitted in a random manner and significant effort is required to sort them, a sorting charge may be applied on an hourly basis.
Drying: Large samples that are particularly wet and require extensive drying times will have an additional drying charge levied.

Oversize Samples: samples in excess of 5kg will require extra splitting before being pulverised.
Jaw Crushing: Rock chip, diamond core or other samples of large particle size will require jaw crushing to nominal 6mm before pulverising.



Sample Storage

Bulk sample rejects can be either disposed-of or returned to the client after completion of preparation. We will store your prepared samples free-of-charge for three months after completion of analysis, after which they can be returned to you, disposed-of or stored at our facility.