Survey of sampling procedures at various main ore-buying stations in the Colorado Plateau area

Abstract

The Colorado School of Mines Research Foundation has completed a survey of ore-sampling procedure at various uranium-purchasing depots in the Colorado Plateau area of Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico. This survey indicates a wide difference in sampling procedure at the various operations. Deviations from accepted standards of good sampling procedure were observed. In certain plants, present sampling procedure seems to have been developed years ago during a period when uranium production was relatively unimportant and a high degree of sampling accuracy was unnecessary. In some instances these practices may slant sampling results in favor of the ore buyer. In other cases the ore producer unquestionably receives undue benefit. The survey has disclosed no evidence of intentional tampering with sample devices or other irregularities in sampling procedure which might be intended to deliberately defraud either the byer of the seller of uranium ores. This report contains a detailed description of each sampling unit. It also describes a hypothetical sampling unit that embodies all the requisite features of good practice under conditions such as those that presently exist in the Colorado Plateau. The shortcomings as well as the satisfactory features of each of the existing plants are discussed in this report. Recommendations are made for the correction of observed deficiencies.