JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Analytical chemistry specialist Set Point Laboratories has been awarded a contract to manage and operate a newly established underground laboratory at the Palabora Mining Company in Limpopo, enabling closer monitoring of ore copper concentrations as the operation moves to a new mining level.
Set Point outlined in a statement on Wednesday that the laboratory had, since its establishment, reduced assay and sampling costs, as well as improved the turnaround time for sample analysis, which formed a critical part of the decision-making processes related to production.
The facility had the capacity to analyse 450 samples, or 9 t of copper ore a week, alleviating the logistical issues involved with the transportation of sample from the underground section to the mine’s on-surface chemical laboratory.
“Since it was established, the laboratory has successfully reduced the turnaround time from more than one month to 72 hours, allowing the client to focus on [its] core competencies, while ensuring that the analytical data received is accurate and consistent,” commented Set Point MD Kevin Gerber.
For quality control purposes, 10% of the mine’s samples were reanalysed at Set Point’s main laboratory for comparison, he added.