MINING & MINERALS

Independent Inspection, Sampling & Trade Assay — From Pit to Port

The mining and minerals sector forms the backbone of global industry — powering construction,
energy, manufacturing, and technology.
BQCIS provides neutral, third-party evidence for ores, concentrates, and refined metals.
We reduce disputes, accelerate payments, and protect value with standardized sampling, ISO-aligned testing, and QR-verifiable certificates.

• Independent supervision at load-out
• Representative sampling
• Traceable results

Why BQCIS for Metals & Minerals

• Neutral oversight: Independent supervision at mine sites, stockyards, warehouses, ports, and vessels — no conflicts, just facts.
• Representative sampling: Documented plans, sealed splits, and full chain-of-custody from the first increment to the final certificate.
• Defensible analytics: Chemical assay, moisture, sizing, and impurity determinations performed to recognized methods with QA/QC controls.
• Traceable reporting: Time-stamped photos, calibrated scale references, and QR-secure certificates anyone can verify in seconds.
• End-to-end coverage: Grade control, blending, load-out, marine/draft surveys, and dispute resolution (umpire).

Left: Inspector collecting increments from a stockpile. Right: Crucibles and furnace in assay lab. Captions: “Representative increments under a documented plan.” · “Assay under validated methods.”

What We Do

Our Method: Sample · Test · Verify · Certify

Sample: Representative increments under ISO/ASTM plans; sealed custody splits.

Test: Accredited partner labs; duplicates, blanks, spikes, CRMs.

Verify: Weight/draft reconciliation, variance analysis, seal confirmation.

Certify: QR-secure certificate with results, seals, photos, and verification link.

Who We Serve

Producers · Traders · Smelters & Refineries · Terminals & Warehouses · Banks & Insurers · Government Agencies & Exchanges

Commodities We Handle

• Base metals: copper, zinc, lead concentrates; nickel sulfides/mattes; cobalt hydroxide
• Bulks: iron ore fines/lumps, manganese ore, bauxite & alumina, coal & coke
• Battery feedstocks: spodumene (lithium), nickel intermediates
• Precious metals: doré, tailings/slag samples (witnessed)
• Refined/semi-finished: aluminum ingots/billets, ferroalloys, scrap metals

Global Coverage

• South America: Copper and zinc (Peru); iron ore and bauxite (Brazil); aluminum (Argentina).
• Africa: Cobalt and copper (DRC); gold (Ghana); manganese (South Africa).
• Asia: Nickel (Indonesia); rare earths (China); iron ore (India).
• Europe & Middle East: Steel/aluminum verification hubs; refinery audits in UAE & Turkey.

Outcomes Our Clients See

• Variance down: Weight/quality variance window reduced to ±0.4%.
• Fewer disputes: Quality claims down >50% after protocol adoption.
• Faster release: Clear reports accelerate payment and customs processes.

Program Options

• Ad-hoc shipments: rapid mobilization
• Contract programs: recurring liftings with KPIs
• Blending oversight: live adjustments to meet target specs
• Umpire support: custody splits for buyer/seller/umpire labs

Deliverables (“Evidence Pack”)

• Sampling plan & map; contamination controls; PPE records
• Composite formation & sealed split registry
• Assay & moisture reports with QA/QC summary
• Draft/weight reconciliations & scale certificates
• Seal log with photos, timestamps, geo-tags
• Variance & trend analysis (current vs. historical)
• QR-secured certificate + consolidated PDF; optional CSV/JSON export

Service Levels & SLA

• Express: moisture same day; assay in 24–48h
• Standard: balanced turnaround
• Complex: multi-method or multi-site with agreed timelines

KPIs: variance window, integrity incidents, report lead time, QA/QC pass rate, certificate reissue rate.

Compliance & Methods

• ISO Standards (e.g., ISO 12743 for concentrates)
• ASTM International
• London Metal Exchange (LME) specifications
• ICC UCP 600: Bankable trade documentation rules for Letters of Credit
• ICMM Sustainable Mining Principles

Case Studies

• Ending Moisture Disputes in Copper Concentrate Shipments: KF triplicate → variance tightened, disputes fell.
• Umpire Assay + Blending Stabilizes Copper Grade: Umpire protocol + blend-to-target at load-out → grade variability reduced.

Risk & Safety

• Operational safety: dust control, slope stability, traffic management, confined space & hot-work rules
• Sample safety: contamination prevention, sealed tins, custody seals, controlled storage
• Integrity controls: dual sign-off; seal photos; timestamped custody records

Disputes & Umpire

Before shipment: align on sampling & dispute protocol; nominate umpire lab; define split distribution.
Trigger conditions: variance thresholds, seal breach, method deviation.
Process: release custody split to umpire; reconcile results; document final settlement.

Digital Assurance & Portal

• QR-secured certificates linking to verified digital records
• Data exports: PDF + optional CSV/JSON; API access on request
• Audit trails for access, versioning, and revocation

Typical Use Cases

• Concentrates (Cu/Zn/Pb): harmonized sampling; three-point moisture; fewer disputes
• Iron ore: size & chemistry alignment; draft survey reconciliation
• Bauxite & alumina: impurity and moisture control to minimize penalties
• Battery feedstocks: bag-to-warehouse traceability; custody splits; documented moisture conditioning
• Precious metals: witnessed sealing, dual-control assay, custody chain

Ready to Ship with Confidence?

Book an inspection · Request a sampling plan review · Talk to a minerals specialist

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