Document No: MRM_P010

MRM_P010 Document Owner: Mineral Resource Manager

Revision No: 1
Core Density Data Collection Issue Date: 09/06/06
Page: 1 of 7
Mina de Oro Choco 10
Mineral Resource Management

P R O C E D U R E / P R O C E D I M I E N T O M R M _ P 0 1 0

C o r e D e n s i t y D a t a C o l l e c t i o n

Aim: To establish and maintain a standardised system to ensure

representative density measurements of drill core samples

Scope:  Lack of sufficient rock density data is a common negative

factor in a resource estimation study. Density data need to
receive sufficient attention and it needs to be demonstrated that
the dry rock density values used in a resource model are based
on a sufficient number of relevant density measurements.
 This procedure guarantees that density measurements are
carried out through a standardised system for both competent,
no porous rock and highly weathered, clay-rich rock (saprolite)
 Obtain a consistent set of density data supporting the building of
a proper density model
Compliancy: MRM Quality Management System (MRMQMS)
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX)
Resource/ Reserve Reporting Codes (SAMREC)

Audit/ Assessment :
Training Package:

Forms: MRM_F031

Version Date Author Signature Approved Signature Description

1 June 9th, 06 G. Funaioli Matt Dusci Developed to ensure

SOX compliancy
2
3

Filename: 423328872.doc Page 1 of

7
 Document No: MRM_P010
MRM_P010 Document Owner: Mineral Resource Manager
Revision No: 1
Core Density Data Collection Issue Date: 09/06/06
Page: 2 of 7
Mina de Oro Choco 10
Mineral Resource Management

1. RESPONSIBILITY

It is critical for the technical development of an exploration, resource or mine geologist that
he/she understands the measurement of specific gravity data and the differences with the
estimation of average dry rock density data.

It is responsibility of the Project Geologist, or the geologist logging, the geotechnician in

charge of the density measurements, and the Core Yard Supervisor to be familiar with this
procedure

The Project Geologist, or the geologist logging, is responsible for sample selection.

The geotechnician in charge of the density measurements will be responsible for the quality
of data and operate in strict contact with the Project geologist, or logging geologist, in charge
of the program/drill hole.

The geotechnician in charge of the density measurements will be responsible for keeping
safe and clean the measurement room.

The geotechnician in charge of the density measurements reports to Technical and Resource
Managers.

2. INTRODUCTION

Estimating metalliferous resources and reserves density is typically expressed as dry bulk
density. This is the mass per unit volume, including porosity but excluding any natural water
content.

Errors that may be introduced during measurements are as follows:

 Mix-up of sample numbers

 Incorrect drying or sample storage
 Balance not calibrate

Filename: 423328872.doc Page 2 of

7
 Document No: MRM_P010
MRM_P010 Document Owner: Mineral Resource Manager
Revision No: 1
Core Density Data Collection Issue Date: 09/06/06
Page: 3 of 7
Mina de Oro Choco 10
Mineral Resource Management

 Drift of balance over the time

 Quick cooling temperature of wax induces a bad coating of the saprolite sample
 Incorrect reading of displays
 Typing errors with manual data-entry

3. PROCEDURE

Three methods are described in detail being the more suitable for the core samples from the
project:
1. water Immersion suitable for competent, no porous rock,
2. water immersion after wax coating.
Methods 2 and 3 are for highly weathered, clay-rich rock (saprolite).
Methods 1 and 3 have to be adopted for bulk density measurement both avoiding the
practical difficulty of collecting displaced water.

3.1 DENSITY SAMPLE SELECTION

 Samples of competent, no porous rock should be selected only after a detailed log
has been carried out as for Procedure P008 “Diamond Geological and Structural
Logging”; that means also after the core has been cut as for Procedure P007
“Diamond Core – Core handling, Geotechnical Logging, Photos, Sampling”, also for a
better comparison assay vs. dry bulk density.
 Samples of highly weathered, clay-rich rock (saprolite) should be selected after a
quick log has been carried out as for Procedure P007 “Diamond Core – Core handling,
Geotechnical Logging, Photos, Sampling that means also before the core has been
cut
 A dry bulk density sample must be taken representative of each change of lithology
outside the lode zone.
 A dry bulk density sample must be taken representative of each assay interval within
the lode zone.
 It is important that the samples used for density measurements are representative of
the material for which resource or reserve estimates are to be determined.

Filename: 423328872.doc Page 3 of

7
 Document No: MRM_P010
MRM_P010 Document Owner: Mineral Resource Manager
Revision No: 1
Core Density Data Collection Issue Date: 09/06/06
Page: 4 of 7
Mina de Oro Choco 10
Mineral Resource Management

 The Project Geologist, or the logging geologist, will mark with china marker a 15 cm
interval of the half core representative for that specific rock interval.
 Also the rock code for the selected interval must be marked on the sample.
 Adopting a constant sample length minimizes biasing of the sample selection.
 The technician in charge of the density measurement will assure that the start and the
end of the selected sample is cut with a saw perpendicularly to the core axis.
 The technician will mark the density sample with a black permanent marker indicating
the hole number, the number of correspondent assay interval, and the “FROM” and
“TO” of selected sample to an accuracy of 0.01m, as also reported on the MRM_F031
“Density Measurements Log form”.
 The technician in charge of the density measurement will photograph the sample
outside the core box, using a proper scale for reference.
 The photos will be downloaded, named as for HOLE NUMBER_ASSAY SAMPLE
NUMBER, and stored into ????????????????
 A wood block, or flagging tape, will be left in the box in order to reconstruct precisely
the original position of the sampled core after that the measure be taken.
 Wash the sample to remove dirt and dust

3.2 Balance setting and preliminary checks

 Locate the balance in a close room, with constant temperature and far from current of
air.
 Check balance levelling
 Calibrate the balance (at least 2 digits precision) previously levelled on a stable table.
Use certificated weights for calibration (200g, 300g, and 400g).
 A measure of the density of the water to be used for weighting will be periodically
carried out (once a week).
TIP Density of water varies slightly with temperature. However for the purpose of
calculating the density of geological samples it is generally assumed to be
1.00 tm-3. The errors arising from this assumption are likely to be much smaller
than other errors inherent in bulk density measurement, and can be ignored.

Filename: 423328872.doc Page 4 of

7
 Document No: MRM_P010
MRM_P010 Document Owner: Mineral Resource Manager
Revision No: 1
Core Density Data Collection Issue Date: 09/06/06
Page: 5 of 7
Mina de Oro Choco 10
Mineral Resource Management

3.3 Immersion method.

This is a method that avoid the direct measurement of the volume of water displaced
by a sample.
The method is only applicable for component, non-porous rocks.
The procedure is as follows:

 Dry the sample in oven at 110°C (230°F) for 24 hours

 Weight the sample to determine the dry mass (Ms). Leave the reading to stabilize for
about 1 minute.
 Place the specimen on a support of known weight in water
 Suspend the sample into the support from the balance, in water.
 Subtract the weight of the support in water to determine the weight of the sample in
water (Msw)

3.4 Immersion method with waxing.

Many highly weathered or clay-rich samples tend to slake or disintegrate when
immersed in water.
To overcome this problem, the sample has to be coated with wax after drying.
A water displacement method can then be used, as follows:
 Dry the sample in oven at 110°C for 24 hours.
 Weight the sample to determine the dry mass (Ms).
 Determine the density of the wax
 Completely seal the sample by coating the sample with hot wax.
 Allow the coated sample to cool to room temperature
 Weight the sample (Ms+wax)
 Immerse the coated sample in a water bath for one hour
 Suspend the sample into the support from the balance, in water.
 Subtract the weight of the support in water to determine the weight of the sample in
water (Ms+wax_water)

3.5 Data entering and density calculation

Filename: 423328872.doc Page 5 of

7
 Document No: MRM_P010
MRM_P010 Document Owner: Mineral Resource Manager
Revision No: 1
Core Density Data Collection Issue Date: 09/06/06
Page: 6 of 7
Mina de Oro Choco 10
Mineral Resource Management

 All measurements collected must be recorded on the MRM_F031 “Density

Measurements Log form”.
 All samples must be returned to their respective location into the core boxes.
 The MRM_F031 “Density Measurements Log form” is signed off by the geotechnician
responsible for measurements, and by the Project geologist, or logging geologist, for
approval, and delivered to data entry manager.
 Density is calculated after the data have been entered into the system through pre-
defined formulas.
 The technician in charge of the density measurement will do spot checks of the data
obtained calculating the final density by the simple use of a spreadsheet.
TIP The Dry bulk density for the immersion method is calculated as the
mass of sample in air divided by the difference between the mass of the
sample in air and the mass of the sample in water. Hence
Ms Where:
  Density
M s  M sw  Water density
w
Ms Dry mass
Msw Wet mass

The Dry bulk density for the immersion method with waxing it is a
variation of the above method for highly weathered or clay-rich samples.
It is calculated as the mass of dry sample divided by the volume of the
sample, after accounting for the volume of wax. Hence:
Where:
Ms
  Density
(Ms+wax - Ms+wax _water )-
 M swax  M s   wax
Ms
Wax density
Dry mass
Ms+wax Dry sample plus wax
 wax mass
Ms+wax_water Dry sample plus wax
mass weighted in
water

Filename: 423328872.doc Page 6 of

7
 Document No: MRM_P010
MRM_P010 Document Owner: Mineral Resource Manager
Revision No: 1
Core Density Data Collection Issue Date: 09/06/06
Page: 7 of 7
Mina de Oro Choco 10
Mineral Resource Management

Sampe is
photographed

Filename: 423328872.doc Page 7 of

7