BLM Assay Laboratory Report Released

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management released a Mineral Report in January 2003 entitled Results of Analyses of Standard and Blank Samples Tested at Selected Assay Laboratories in North America. The BLM's Washington Office assigned the National Training Center in Phoenix to develop and implement the survey because of Public Land administration problems caused by inaccurate or nonreproducible precious metal assays. Geologists Matthew W. Shumaker and Burrett W. Clay administered the survey. In the survey, standards and blanks for gold, silver, platinum and palladium were sent to North American laboratories that perform assays for the general public for money. In all, 65 laboratories were tested. The survey lists the name and location of each laboratory tested, with results of the tests.

The assay lab survey report was intended for the use of Bureau of Land Management personnel in evaluating laboratory results submitted to them. While other uses are beyond the original scope and objectives of the project, the report may be useful to persons who would like to inquire into the accuracy of work provided by a laboratory.

BLM ASSAY LABORATORY REPORT (PDF format, 606k )

For more information about Arizona assayers, see Registered Assayers. For more information about assaying, see Fire Assaying.

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