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Sample Size Calculation

To calculate the minimum sample size (M) needed for accurate sampling: M is equal to the cube of the diameter of the largest pieces (d) in the material, multiplied by a sampling constant (C) and divided by the square of the measure of statistical error (s). S is calculated based on the desired certainty range, mean probable assay value, and number of standard deviations corresponding to the desired probability (e.g. 1.96 standard deviations for 95% probability).

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723 views

Sample Size Calculation

To calculate the minimum sample size (M) needed for accurate sampling: M is equal to the cube of the diameter of the largest pieces (d) in the material, multiplied by a sampling constant (C) and divided by the square of the measure of statistical error (s). S is calculated based on the desired certainty range, mean probable assay value, and number of standard deviations corresponding to the desired probability (e.g. 1.96 standard deviations for 95% probability).

Uploaded by

gtdombo
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Sample Size Calculation

Using the Gys sampling equation;

ML Cd 3 2 LM s
Where M = minimum weight of sample required (g) L = gross weight of sample to be sampled C = sampling constant for the material to be sampled d = is the diameter of the largest pieces in the material to be sampled (cm) s = the measure of statistical error committed by sampling. Since M <<<< L, then

Cd 3 s2

To calculate the desired value for s, first select the desired certainty range (for example, you might want a copper assay to be accurate to within +/- 0.1% copper), then divide this value by the mean probable assay value (so for a 5% copper sample, you get 0.1/5 = 0.02). Then, select the number of standard deviations that will be needed to give the desired certainty. For a probability of 95%, this is 1.96 standard deviations, so 1.96s =0.02, and so s=0.0102. If the desired certainty is 99%, then 2.576 standard deviations are needed, and so for this case s = 0.02/2.576 = 0.0078 Now attempt question 1 in tutorial 2 and more examples in Fine and Geiger.

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