MEASUREMENT OF IN SITU BULK DENSITY AND MOISTURE CONTENT FOR LIMONITE AND SAPROLITE TEST PIT SAMPLES

EQUIPMENT 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Drying Oven Dry Pan Weighing Device GPS (Global Positioning System) Shovel Hammer or Mallet Chisel (flat and pointed tips) Scoop Plastic sample bag (at least 1mm thickness) Plastic straw or string 11. Tape Measure 12. Calculator 13. Log Forms 14. Clip Board 15. Marker Pen 16. Pencil

PROCEDURE 1. Prepare the ground for test pitting by removing the unnecessary material (i.e. transported material, loose material,) or at least 1 meter depth (vertically and horizontally) of the in situ material to expose the fresh material. 2. Measure a test pit dimensions of about 25 cm x 25 cm x 25 cm in the prepared ground. 3. Take all the in situ materials (in situ samples) within the limits of the measured test pit dimensions and put it in the plastic sample bag of known mass without any material spillage then seal it immediately to prevent moisture loss. In sealing the plastic sample bag, tightly tie it with the plastic straw or string to provide complete moisture seal. 4. While collecting the in situ materials, make sure that no excessive sampling be done beyond the limits of the measured test pit dimensions except for some instances where materials (i.e. saprolitic rock, rocky saprolite, and boulder) cannot be cut precisely according to the desired measured dimensions thereby producing rough or uneven surfaces or edges and could minimally increase or decrease the quantity of materials taken. 5. After collecting all the in situ samples, measure all the dimensions of the test pit as shown below and record it in the Density Log Form to arrive on the highest possibility, if not exact, of getting the actual volume of the in situ samples collected.

6. Calculate for the average of each dimension (Have, Wave and Lave) then compute for the actual volume of the in situ sample (Vin situ = Have x Wave x Lave). 7. Bring all the collected partial in situ samples to the sample preparation area. 8. Weigh each collected partial in situ sample (Mpartial_in situ + b) less the weight of the plastic sample bag of known mass(b) to determine only the weight of the partial in situ material sample (Mpartial_in situ) , and record it in the Density Log Form. 9. Compute for the total weight of all the partial in situ material samples (Min situ = Mpartial_in situ1 + Mpartial_in situ2 + Mpartial_in situn). 10. Determine the in situ bulk density (Din situ = Min situ / Vin situ). 11. Prepare all the samples for drying by placing each sample on the dry pan of known mass then break up the material sample with hand tools and spread it evenly to release any trapped moisture during drying. 12. Weigh each partial in situ sample (M2partial_in situ + p) less the weight of the dry pan of known mass (p) to determine only the weight of the partial in situ material sample (M2partial_in situ), and record it in the MC Form. 13. Compute for the total weight of all the partial in situ material samples (M2in situ = M2partial_in situ1 + M2partial_in situ2 + M2partial_in situn). 14. Dry the samples in the oven at specified temperature (105C 5C) until a constant weight is obtained. Drying of each sample shall be done first for 24 hours and weigh, then, the succeeding measurements will be until the rate of weight loss becomes 0.1% in eve ry 2 hours. 15. After establishing the constant weight of each partial dry bulk sample (in 3 consecutive readings of weight loss at 0.1% per 2 hours), record the final weight of the dry bulk sample (MFpartial_dry +p) less the weight of the dry pan of known mass (p) to determine only the weight of the partial dry bulk material sample (Mpartial_dry). 16. Compute for the total weight of all the partial dry bulk material samples (Mdry = Mpartial_dry1 + Mpartial_dry2 + Mpartial_dryn). 17. Determine the moisture content of the whole sample expressed in percent by using the following methods; Method 1 MC = M2in situ - Mdry x 100 M2in situ 18. Determine the dry bulk density using either of the two methods. Method 1: Ddry = Mdry + ((Min situ - M2in situ)(1 (MC / 100))) Vin situ Method 2: Ddry = Min situ - (Min situ x MC / 100) Vin situ 19. After weighing all the dry samples, prepare the samples for the analysis of elements.

20. Bring the prepared samples to the assay lab for the analysis of Ni, Co, Fe, Cao, SiO2, and MgO. 21. When assay results are already available, assign the proper lithological type of each sample according to the ore classification tabulated below:
ORE CLASSIFICATION % Ni <0.90 0.90<1.20 0.90<1.20 1.20<1.50 1.50 1.60<2.00 2.00 <1.60

ORE CLASS WL1 WL2 OB1 LGL HGL LGS HGS WS

% Fe 20 20<40 40 20 20 <20 <20 <20