Hi @Nodferatu, I'll try and answer your exact question more...

Hi @Nodferatu,

I'll try and answer your exact question more precisely later. For the minute here is a paper which might help explain typical industry standard protocols when it comes to sampling and assaying.

I've reproduced the introduction below and you can read the whole paper at the link underneath. In some ways given the stages of the various prospects I've got more problems with the sampling method than the veracity of the metallurgy at this stage, although this whole question of "ionic forms" hasn't been explained so I'm very uncomfortable with that until they can explain exactly how the gold physically occurs in the rock. Esh

"The integrity of a resource database is pivotal to a company’s success in securing debt or equity finance for a new mining project. The quality of data and thus the validity of the database can only be guaranteed when appropriate sampling and assaying protocols have been implemented. No amount of mathematical sophistry can replace them.

This paper examines the key sampling, analytical and quality assurance factors impacting on project success and how a project manager should set about establishing an analytical protocol in liaison with a commercial laboratory. What can really be expected from assay data? Laboratories are not perfect, mistakes can happen we are all human, even geologists make mistakes. It is the duty of both the chemist and geologist to minimise mistakes, and ensure that assay data is fit for purpose. An analytical performance specification should be clearly defined in contract documents ensuring laboratories deliver technically sound and legally defensible assay results. It is irresponsible to assay samples using a "cheap and nasty" geochemical technique if the project involves resource estimation.

It is assumed that the project manager has done his homework and minimised the potentially greatest source of error, field sampling. Field sampling errors can only be minimised by developing and thoroughly testing a sampling protocol that defines minimum subsample size for the sampling regime (particle size and sample recovery), and clearly describes an efficient subsampling protocol. Naturally, this is in addition to diligence by explorers at the sampling site."

http://www.lqms.com.au/files/resources/Unrealistic Expectations of Assay Results.pdf