SGS, a leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, has announced a new contract to open and operate a 2,025 sq.m on-site geochemistry laboratory at the North Mara mine, in Tanzania, owned by Barrick Gold.

The state-of-the-art laboratory will be equipped to provide sample preparation, analytical testing and fire assay, using PhotonAssay™ technology, an environmentally friendly, non-destructive method for gold analysis. The facility will be managed by a dedicated team of 67 full-time SGS employees, ensuring efficient operation and high-quality service, the company says.

Lawrence Ng, Vice-President Geochemistry at SGS, said: “The introduction of the Chrysos PhotonAssay technology on-site represents a significant advancement in gold analysis. This innovative technology not only provides our clients with real-time data, aiding them in making informed decisions throughout the value chain, but also contributes to the optimisation of processes to potentially increase productivity.”

PhotonAssay, Chrysos says, delivers faster, safer and more accurate analysis of gold, silver and complementary elements by non-destructive measurement of larger and more representative samples in as little as two minutes, enabling rapid turnaround of critical operational information that drives optimisation throughout the mining value chain.

The system, originally developed at Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, provides an environmentally-friendly, chemical-free, more sustainable replacement for traditional fire assay methods, significantly reducing CO2 emissions and hazardous waste.