Ore Grade Base Metal - GBM909-15 - ColdBlock Technologies

APPLICATION NOTE

Ore Grade Base Metal – GBM909-15

SUMMARY

The application note summarizes the digestion of GBM909-15, an ore grade base metal Certified Reference Material using ColdBlock™ Digestion Pro Series Technology.

Instrument:	ColdBlock CBM sample digester, chiller, HF compatible liners, ICP-MS & ICP-OES
Published:	January 2023
Digestion Time:	30 Minutes
Acid Used:	Reverse Aqua Regia, HF & H3BO3
Average ColdBlock Recovery vs. CRM:	94% Silver 98% Copper 102% Nickel

METHODOLOGY

Chiller temperature was set to -5 °C
0.25g of each sample was weighed and placed into a ColdBlock™ Digestion vessel
20 mL of reverse Aqua Regia + 3 mL HF
Sample was digested at 80% power for 20 minutes
20mL of 4%v/vBoric acid was added
Samples were digested again at 80% power for 10 minutes
Samples were cooled and bulked to 50mL using 2% HNO₃+ 0.5% HClv/v

DISCUSSION

Upon addition of HNO3, the evolution of reddish brown (NO2) fumes occurred
After 20 minutes, the samples were mostly clear
After bulking up, the samples turned slightly pink, and a trace amount of material settled on the bottom of the tube
Hydrofluoric acid can be added for a “near-total” digestion

This material is described as a Nickel Sulphide Concentrate. geostats.com.au

GBM909-15; Ore Grade Base Metal; Geostats Pty Ltd; Mining Industry Consultants; O’Connor, Western Australia (April,2011)

Results

Geostats GBM909-15 – Nickel Sulphide Concentrate
Method:	0.25g	20mL reverse Aqua Regia + 3 mL HF digested at 80% for 20 minutes, add 20mL of 4% Boric Acid – and digest again at 80% for another 10 minutes
Element	Geostats Certified 4-acid Value (ppm)	95% Confidence Limits		Sample A	Sample B	Sample C	Average (ppm)	Stdev	% RSD	%Recovery vs certified 4-acid value
Element	Geostats Certified 4-acid Value (ppm)	Low	High	Sample A	Sample B	Sample C	Average (ppm)	Stdev	% RSD	%Recovery vs certified 4-acid value
Ag	13.5	13.26	13.74	12.9	12.9	12.3	12.7	0.28	2.2%	94%
Cu	13120	13052	13188	13055	13061	12347	12821	335.05	2.6%	98%
Pb	2120	2098	2142	2194	2217	2094	2168	53.39	2.5%	102%
Ni	115901	114922	116880	116943	120506	116606	118018	1764.42	1.5%	102%
Zn	26608	26399	26817	26204	27080	26389	26558	376.89	1.4%	100%

Click here to download the Application Note in PDF format.

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4551 Zimmerman Ave
Niagara Falls, ON L2E 3M5
info@coldblock.ca.