Sampling Practices

Theory, Statistics and Methods

01/21/2016

Theory of Sampling

Objectives
Expose

the determinative variables relevant to the

operations
Explain the independence of the variables
Control sampling operations
Predict the results
NOTE: Applicable only to a highly idealized sampling
technique.

Theory of Sampling

Normally, sampling involves a number of stages to

reduce the bulk size to the sample size.

Sampling, in general, is prone to a lot of errors.

Theory of Sampling

Perfect Sampling Technique

It

will yield samples such that any deviation from

complete representation of quality to be tested in the
sample are ascribed to chance causes.
It can be said that reliable sampling technique is
largely based on the THEORY OF PROBABILITIES.

Sampling Practices

Measurement of Sampling Error

The

error of the established sampling practice must be

determined from the very start.
The objective is to achieve a convenient mass and
frequency with the required sampling precision.

Solution: Optimization of sampling procedure

Sampling Practices

Simple concepts of variance and standard deviation will

suffice as basis for the statistical evaluation of sampling
error.

The sampling error, expressed as the overall sampling

variance, is simply the sum of the variances obtained
from the chosen increment mass and frequency.
NOTE: It is possible only to make an ESTIMATE of how
the population will behave from the statistics as a
selected set of samples

Statistics of Sampling Error

Terms to remember:
Population

the total number of discrete units in a

bulk (with distinct physical and chemical properties)
Parameter numerical characteristics of the
population
Statistics selected samples which may be practically
measured and examined and which give an estimate
of the parameters of the whole universe or
population

Statistics of Sampling Error

Arithmetic Mean, or

=
Measures

=1

1 + 2 + + 3

the central tendency of a certain parameter.

Does not completely describe the distribution or
spread of the parameter over the population.

Statistics of Sampling Error

Variance, 2 or s2

2
s
Mean

=1(

)2

square deviation of the observed parameter

from the mean.
Describes how possible values are spread around the
expected value.

Statistics of Sampling Error

In most cases where the sample sizes are small, the

point estimate based on the sample mean may
sometimes be different from the true mean .

Statistics of Sampling Error

Confidence Intervals vs. Confidence Limits

Confidence

Intervals - the intervals within which the

true mean has a certain probability of falling
Confidence Limits the extreme values for these
intervals

Statistics of Sampling Error

Confidence Limit

1,1 (
2

The

t may be obtained from the tabulated values

which are available from various confidence levels ()
and sample sizes (N)

Statistics of Sampling Error

Control of Sampling Error

All

plant materials are best sampled while in motion,

preferably in free fall.
Maintain that, for any particular material, there is an
irreducible minimum mass of sample.
Since no sampling system can be entirely free from
error, a method should be chosen which will give
random rather than systematic errors.

Statistics of Sampling Error

Control of Sampling Error

Cost

considerations should never be allowed to reduce

the precision of sampling beyond acceptable limits.
Generally speaking, continuous automatic sampling is
preferable to manual sampling; intermittent manual
sampling should be conducted in a random manner.
Continuous sampling may be done by taking all of the
stream part of the time, or part of the stream all of
the time.

Sampling Methods

General Rule
Sampling

is best conducted by mechanical methods;

manual sampling should only be used when mechanical
sampling proves impractical.

Manual Sampling (Hand Sampling)

Usually more expensive

Slow in batch sampling; labor wasting in continuous
stream sampling
Personal biases come into account
The choice of sampling point is of prime importance
Common tools used: auger, probe or tube samplers,
shovels, scoops

Manual Sampling

Grab sampling
Simplest

form of hand sampling

Consists of taking small equal portions by scoop or
shovel at random or at regular intervals
Usually employed for:
Large Heaps
Railroad cars or Boats
Ore being loaded or unloaded
Ore being transported in small lots

Manual Sampling

Grab sampling
Advantages:

cheap and quick

Disadvantages: Difficult to get a full representation of
all sizes of particles
Applicability: Large Heaps
<0.5 in size ore particles
Low grade or uniform ores
For detection of salting

Manual Sampling

Coning and Quartering

One

of the oldest Hand Sampling methods

Standard method used in US
Applicable for
50-ton lots
Ores with <2 largest particle size

Manual Sampling

Coning and Quartering

Procedure
Ore

is shoveled into a single pile, with the ore

dumped always at the apex of the conical heap

Manual Sampling

Coning and Quartering

Procedure
Ore

is spread (flattened) and then divided into

quarters

Manual Sampling

Coning and Quartering

Procedure
The

two opposite divisions are taken as sample; the

other two are rejected

Procedure

is repeated until final mass is obtained

Manual Sampling

Coning and Quartering

Advantages:

Expensive equipment not required;

applicable to practically all classes of ore
Disadvantages: Expensive in terms of labor; Frequent
handling of ore by crude means; slow and tedious

Manual Sampling

Shovel Sampling
Also

known as Fractional Shoveling, or Fractional

Selection
Applied when ore is being loaded or unloaded, or
when moved from one place to another by shovel

Manual Sampling

Shovel Sampling
Procedure:

Every alternate, or every third, fourth,

fifth, or tenth shovelful is taken for the sample,
depending upon the sample size required
Alternate procedure: Use a Quartering Shovel or a
Split Shovel

Manual Sampling

Shovel Sampling
Advantages:

Applicable for much larger lots than

Coning and Quartering; cheaper, quicker, and takes up
less space
Disadvantages: Not applicable for samples with big
lumps (>2); susceptible to ore segregation; subject to
manipulation

Manual Sampling

Trench Sampling
Consists

of cutting trenches along a flattened cake of

ore for the samples
Ore is laid out in 1-3 feet deep rectangular cakes (50100 tons) and 1-foot wide trenches are cut along the
middle of the cake, crossing at right angles at the
center
Accuracy is dependent on the degree of mixing of the
material

Manual Sampling

Pipe and Auger Sampling

Use

of pipes with one sharpened end and handles in

the other end
The pipes used are long enough to reach the bottom of
heap
Auger-shaped pipes are used when material being
sampled is packed hard

Manual Sampling

Pipe Sampling
Applicability:

Fine concentrates in railroad cars or

bins; material should not be packed hard
Advantages: quick results with low cost
Disadvantages: Errors due to ore clogging and
insufficient mixing

Machine Sampling

Devices designed to substitute mechanical processes for

the undesirable human element in hand sampling
Lessens or eliminate accidental and intentional errors
due to personal factors
Shortens the time required for sampling, and minimizes
operating labor

Machine Sampling

Jones Riffle Sampler

Continuous

diversion of ore using an even number of

equally sized chutes, adjacent chutes discharging at
opposite ends
Used for cutting down large samples to assay weight
Limitations: Largest ore particle size should be smaller
than chute width by at least a factor of 3

Machine Sampling

Whistle-pipe Sampler
Vertical

pipe with notched

openings cut halfway through the
pipe, each opening spaced 90
horizontally from the preceding
Advantages: Cheapness of
installation; quick reduction in
bulk; no power needed
Disadvantages: Ore clogging and
Segregation due to metal wear

Machine Sampling

Vezin Sampler
Arc-type

sampler which uses a rotating

cone with two scoops to accommodate
cuts through a stream
Advantages: Accurate samples; simple
construction; easy maintenance
Disadvantages: Space consuming;
clogging; lack of ruggedness

Machine Sampling

Snyder Sampler
Consists

of a pan-shaped plate with one or more

sample spouts for stream sample cuts from a feeding
chute
Advantages: simple construction; easy maintenance;
little room required
Disadvantages: Cannot handle sticky ore streams

Machine Sampling

Brunton Oscillating Sampler

Consists

of a hopper which discharges

ore through a chute to an oscillating
deflector consisting of two rejectdeflecting surfaces and a sampledeflecting surface separated by cutting
edges
Advantages: Takes small space; easy
maintenance
Disadvantages: taking of samples is
biased towards the side of the stream

Machine Sampling

Umpire Sampler
Used

for cutting-down dry samples for

assay
Consists of two counter-rotating
buckets placed one over the other,
each divided into 4 compartments
with alternating openings