Gold results are quality checked with the use of many indicators. Indicator trends are important for diagnosing any underlying problem. Understanding operations and knowing which steps pose a threat to data quality aid in the early recognition of problems and their timely correction.
There are several layers of quality control, many of which are employed by every technician in the processing pipeline. Drawing from decades of experience, Paragon divides operations into segments that are quality checked individually. For example, our use of IRMs allows gold fire assay furnace operations to be distinguished from the analytical finish process, allowing quality measurement of only the digestion and analysis. Other layers are: The emphasis we place on using scanners and computer controls to minimize operator errors; and, Employees are trained to recognize defects in upstream samples.
Certified and Internal Reference Materials
One certified reference standard (CRM) and one internal reference standard (IRM) is analyzed for each rack of 42 positions. CRMs are weighed at the client-mandated weight; IRMs are weighed at varying weights, providing a spectrum of gold concentrations, from near baseline to the upper limit of reporting. Each rack also has a duplicate sample and a blank, resulting in 38 client samples per rack of 42.
Paragon Geochemical is a mid-size provider of commercial assay lab services to the mining and exploration industries. Paragon is committed to providing assay services that meet all industry and regulatory standards of best practice while consistently beating industry expectations for turnaround time and customer service. We are located in Northern Nevada providing service in the Reno, Nevada, and Sparks, Nevada districts.