CORRECT STOPE SAMPLING METHODS

1. REGULAR INTERVALS

By REGULAR INTERVALS we mean that samples are taken at sections equal distances apart
along a reef exposure such as a stope face or a development end on reef.

1. Samples in a stope are taken at sections normally 5 metres apart. This distance is called
the sampling interval (on some mines where the values are high and erratic, the
sampling interval may be reduced to 3 metres while on other mines, where the gold is
evenly distributed throughout the reef, the sampling interval may be increased to 7
metres.
2. Sections should be spaced at regular intervals along the reef exposure because this
allows for uniformity and simplicity of methods in calculating the average widths and
values.
3. In order to measure off a sampling section on the face, the procedure is as follows:
3.1 The position of the first sampling section is determined by measurement from the
top of the face, at half the sampling interval.

3.2 After determining the position from the top of the face, this position is then fixed
by tape measurements from survey pegs.

4. At each section to be sampled the stope face is made safe by trimming or dressing down
all loose pieces of rock likely to cause an accident or contamination of any sample being
taken. The stope face should then be washed thoroughly with clean water from hanging
wall to footwall to remove any particles of gold or loose, fine rock – this is important.
5. In marking off the section two parallel., thin, but clearly defined chalk lines, 10cm apart,
are drawn on the face from top to bottom at right angles to the dip of the reef using a
clino rule set at 90º. The area between these two parallel lines is called a sampling
groove.
(Refer to fig. 1.1)
 1.1

6. The reef in the sampling groove must be examined and the reef contact identified. If it is
a wide reef band, say in excess of 30cm then the samples should be marked off on the
stope face according to the appearance of the reeffor example, divided into zones of
larger pebbles, small pebbles, scattered pebbles or change of colour.
Refer to Fig. 3.1.

3.1
7. The contact sample must first be marked off. At least 2cm of F.W. water below the lower
reef contact must be included in the width to ensure that all the gold on the contact is
included in the sample. The minimum width of any contact sample is 7cm while the
maximum width is 13cm. Refer to Fig. 4.1

8. A check sample must be marked off alongside every contact sample. This is important

because the average value of the two contact samples is used as the true value of the
contact

sample.

9. 2cm of H.W. waste must be included in the top sample to ensure that all the gold on the

upper reef contact is included in the sample.

10. (Refer to Fig 7.2)

In the case of samples being taken on internal waste, 1cm of waste must be included in
the reef sample above and below the internal waste.

11. In marking off the samples, lines parallel to the contact or at right angles to
. the sampling groove lines must be drawn and extended 2 to 3cm beyond each
. sampling groove line. Refer to Fig. 10.1
12. The widths of all the samples must be measured at right angles to the plane of
. the reef in both directions, i.e. at right angles to the dip of the reef in a vertical
. plane. Refer to Figs. 3.1 and 3.2

9.1

9.2
 The Boxwood(clino-rule)rule must be at right angles to the Clino-rule and also at
right angles to the dip of the reef. The bubble of the Clino-rule should be in the
centre of its run. By transferring a level line from each marked sample by means
of the Clino-rule, the true width of each sample can be measured on the Boxwood
rule. This may be difficult to understand. Demonstrate this procedure to your
Supervising Officer or one of your colleagues to ensure that you have understood
how to measure the true width of each sample.
13. The true stope width is an independent measurement from hanging wall to
footwall at right angles to the dip of the reef taken 2 to 4 metres back from the
stope face at each sampling section. The most suitable distance from the stope
face depends on the condition of the hanging wall or footwall so it is left to the
discretion of the sampler to measure the true stope width within an area not
affected by the sagging of the hanging wall. See Fig. 13.1 below.
14. If the true stope width is greater than the stope width at the face, then the
difference is added to the external waste width. On the other hand, if the face
stope width is greater it is accepted as the true stope width for that section. In any
case the accepted true stope width must be measured with extreme care because
it is one of the factors used to calculate the tonnage broken in the stope.
10.1
2. METHOD OF BOOKING
The method of booking used in underground sampling on a gold mine, is known

as the continuous or running method. This takes the form of a sketch at each

section with sufficient space for the correlation of the reef bands and for any

intervening occurrence between sections.

In order to find out whether you must plot the face from left to right or vice verse, open
the field book, turn it sideways and hold it against the face in an open position. If the
direction is which you are going to travel is from left to right, then start plotting from left
to right. If the direction of travel is from right to left, then start plotting from left to right.
If the direction of travel is from right to left, then start plotting from the right-hand side.
Remember that the face must appear in your field book as you see it in front you.
3. FIELDBOOK

3.1 Fill in the required data such as working place, miner’s name and date.
3.2 Mark off the required distance between sections. In this case 6m, and allow
enough space for correlation.

3.3 Book the widths measured, starting from the base line, which is normally at the
bottom contact, and plotting upwards to the top.

3.4 Insert the numbers of the sample tickets against the sample widths starting from
the top to the bottom.

3.5 Add up the total face width and check it by measuring. The stope width
(SW) is measured 2 to 4 metres from the face and the result recorded.
4. INACCESSIBLE SECTION

It infrequently happens that certain sections in stope sampling are inaccessible to

the sampler. On some mines, these are ignored at the time the various averages

are calculated. The correct procedure is to treat this portion of the sampling as
 having been carried ou at irregular intervals. For tonnage purposes, inaccessible

sections cannot be ignored, particularly if it known that an amount of tonnage has

been trammed from this portion of the stope. For this purpose, an effort should be

made to take the stope width, unless this is too dangerous. Should several sections

be inaccessible at the time of sampling, the stope should be resampled.

__________________________________________________________________

PRINCIPLES OF AVERAGING.

1. The average or mean of figures can be obtained by adding the figures together and
dividing this total by the number of figures.

2. The arithmetic mean is used in mine valuation when sampling is done at regular intervals
in order to calculate the average widths and value of a stope panel.

3. If we have measured a stope width at seven sections, we might get the following stope
widths: (cm):

110; 105; 95; 96; 112; 102; 118

What is the average stope width?

110 + 105 + 95 + 96 + 112 + 102 + 118

7
738 = 105,4 cm. .
7
4. If the cm.g/t for each section shown. Were:
616; 842; 506; 914; 865; 581; 774
What is the average cm.g/t?
N.B. With all the above stope widths and cm.g/t the sampling sections are the same
distance apart, i.e. at regular sampling intervals.

616I + 842 + 506 + 914 + 865 + 581 + 774

7
 509.8 = 728 cm.g/t .
7
4.1 With areas the procedure is slightly different. Three areas have the following lengths (L)
and breadths (B).

(a) L. 10m x B. 20m

(b) L. 40m x B. 10m
(c) L. 30m x B. 30m
4.2 A problem such as this must take into account, each area.
The areas are:

(a) L. 10m x B. 20m = 200m²

(b) L. 40m x B. 10m = 400m²
(c) L. 30m x B. 30m = 900m²
Total = 1500m²

4.3 The total area is now divided by the total length to give the average breadth and

the total area is divided by the total breadth to give average length.

Let us tabulate the figures before we do the calculation.

(a) Total length = 80m

(b) Total breadth = 60m .

4.4 Thus,
(a) Average Length = Total area .
Total breadth
= 1500 .
60
= 18,75m
Always tabulate your answer whenever possible.

5. Did you notice that this is basically the same as working with values? Let us tabulate the
figures used in 3 and 4.
 SECTIO
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
N

S.W. (cm) 110 105 95 96 112 102 118

Cm.g/t 616 842 506 914 865 581 774

S.V. (g/t) 5.60 ? ? ? ? ? ?

Calculate and fill in the stope values (g/t) for each section in the above tabulation. Work to
two decimal places. For example.

Section 1 = cm.g/t = 616 = 5,60 g/t

S.W. 110
5.1 The formula for determining the average stope value (g/t) is:
Average Stope Value (g/t) = Total cm.g/t
Total S.W.
7. Use the figures from the tabulation to calculate the average stope value (g/t). Work to two
decimal places.
(Av. S.V. = 5098 = .g/t)

8. NEVER EVER add the S.V. and divide by the number of sections to obtain the average
Stope
Value. Because the stope widths shown in vary, the cm.g/t. for each section must be
calculate
by weighting (multiplying) the stope width (cm) by the stope value (g/t) at each section and
then dividing the total of the cm.g/t by the total of the stope widths.
9. After calculating averages checks must be done to make sure that the calculations are
correct.
The dimension of each individual sample (measured at right angles to the plane of the reef
is
 the sample width. The sum of these sample width’s make up the Reef Width, Channel Width
and Stope Width of the individual sample section. We need to know what the AVERAGE
widths are of the entire stope face that has been sampled.
The assumption is made here that all samples have been taken at REGULAR intervals. This
regular interval gives us the facility to give equal weight to each section.

THE RAGE OF INFLUENCE OF A SAMPLE SECTION IS FROM THE SECTION POSITION

TO MID WAY TO THE ADJACENT SECTION POSITIONS

In this case the sampling interval is 4m. and because the sampling is at a regular interval the
weight of each section is 4m. THEREFORE EACH SECTION SAMPLED CARRIES THE SAME
WEIGHT.

The averaging of a number of sections with regard to widths is the arithmetic mean of the sum of
the widths.

SECTION 1 2 3 4 5

Waste cm 16 18 13 19 12

Reef cm 20 25 19 23 20

Waste cm 9 10 11 11 7

Reef cm 15 12 20 13 14

Waste cm 20 18 16 11 28

Total cm 80 83 79 77 81 Stope width

 Total cm 44 47 50 47 41 Channel width

Total cm 35 37 39 36 34 Reef width

To find the average Stope, Channel and Reef width.

Stope width: 80 + 83 + 79 + 77 + 81 = 400m ÷ 5 = 80,0 rounded to 80 cm

Channel width: 44 + 47 + 50 + 47 + 41 = 229cm ÷ 5 = 45,8 rounded to 46 cm

Reef width: 35 + 37 + 39 + 36 + 34 = 181m ÷ 5 = 36,2 rounded to 36 cm

It must be noted that all widths as indicated above are rounded up or down to unity.

The presentation that is most commonly used is shown below it represents the summation of the
sampling sheet.

Section Reef Channel Stope

No. width width width
cm cm cm
1 35 44 80
2 37 47 83
3 39 50 79
4 36 47 77
5 34 41 81
Total 181 229 400
Average reef width = (181 ÷ 5) = 36,2 = 36 cm
Average Channel width = (229 ÷ 5) = 45,8 = 46 cm
Average stope width = (400 ÷ 5) = 80,0 = 80 cm
AVERAGING OF MINERAL VALUES.

To find the average value of several values within a single sampling section cognateness MUST
be taken of the sample width and the value weighted by this width in relation to the other sample
value and widths.

Section 1
cm g/t. centimeter gram/ton
waste(H/W) 16
reef 20 16,8 (20 * 16,8) = 336
waste(Int. W) 9
reef 15 18,7 (15 * 18,7) = 281
waste(F/W) 20
Total reef width = 35 cm total cm.g/t 617
Average reef value 617 ÷ 35 = 17,63 g/t.
But the value only given to 0,1 in the question therefore the average value can only be to 0,1 g/t
i.e. 17,6 g/t.

Cm.g/t when calculated are rounded off to 1 unit and any further calculations are computed with
this rounded figure.

The Cm.g/t is an INDEX value and is CONSTANT for the quantity of mineral in any one or
number of sampled sections.

To find the average Channel and Stope values of the section above.

Reef value = 617 = 17,6 g/t

35
Channel value = 617 = 14,0 g/t
44
Stope value = 617 = 7,7 g/t
80
It must be noted that the value becomes progressively diluted as more waste width (cm) is
introduced into the equation.

Section Section Section Value

1 2 3 cm.g/t

Waste (cm) 26 26 29 Nil

Reef (cm) @ g/t 20 @ 16,8 g/t 25 @ 17,2 g/t 19 @ 14,6 g/t 1043

Waste (cm) 19 20 11 Nil

Reef (cm) @ g/t 15 @ 18,7 g/t 12 @ 22,5 g/t 20 @ 16,8 g/t 887

Total SW 80 83 79 1930

Total Ch. W 54 57 50 1930

Total RW 35 37 39 1930
Total Ch W 44 cm + 47cm + 50cm = 141cm @ 1930cm.g/t

Total RW 35cm + 37cm + 39cm = 111cm @ 1930cm.g/t

Average Reef Value 1930 ÷ 111 = 17,4 g/t

Average Channel Value 1930 ÷ 141 = 13,7 g/t

Average stope Value 1930 ÷ 242 = 8,0 g/t

It must be noted that the assumption is that all sample sections are taken at REGULAR intervals.

When the average widths and values are asked for, it is not necessary to plot the sampling, but
one can draw tabulation and calculate the requested figures, as can be seen from the following
example:
Sect Reef Channel Waste Stope
No. Width Value Width Value HW IntW FW Width Value cm.g/t
18
11 2
22
11 2
1 22
15 10
150
8 50
400
15

Total 45 13.20 45 13.20 18 15 78 7.62 594

18

14 4
56
2 14 12
168
8 40
320
27

Total 36 15.11 36 15.11 18 27 81 6.72 544

21

14 1
14
3 14 9
126
8 61
488
30

Total 36 17.44 36 17.44 21 30 87 7.22 628

18
12 6 72
6
4
10 8 80
8 18 144

Total 30 9.87 36 8.22 18 6 9 63 4.70 296

5 21
10 TR -
 6
12 4 48
8 40 320
12

Total 30 12.27 36 10.22 21 6 12 69 4.91 368

Grand
177 189 96 12 93 378 2430
Total
Ave 35,4 13.73 37,8 12.86 19,2 2,4 18,6 75,6 6.42 486

Method

REEF CHANNEL WASTE STOPE

Widt Valu Widt Valu H Int F Tota Widt Valu
Section h e h e W W W l h e cm.g/t
cm g/t cm g/t cm cm cm cm cm g/t

46
8 50 400
1
7 250 1 750
45

Tot and 143. 143.

15 15 46 45 91 106 20.3 2 150
Av 3 3
46
6 140 840
2
6 100 600
49
Tot and 120. 120.
12 12 46 49 95 107 13.5 1 440
Av 0 0
47
6 90 540
3
6 150 900
50
 Tot and 120. 120.
12 12 47 50 97 109 13.2 1 440
Av 0 0
46
4 190 760
2
4
6 90 540
6 40 240
43
Tot and
16 96.2 18 85.6 46 2 43 91 107 14.4 1 540
Av
47
6 270
1 620
2
5
4 80
320
6 TR
44
Tot and 121. 107.
16 18 47 2 44 93 109 17.8 1 940
Av 2 8
46
7 170 1 190
6 3
9 110 990
45
Tot and 136. 114.
16 19 46 3 45 94 110 19.8 2 180
Av 2 7
27 27 10
Grand Tot 87 94 7 561 648
8 6 690
122. 113.
Averages 15 16 46 1 46 93 108 16.5 1 782
9 7