13.0 SAMPLE PREPARATION, ANALYSES AND SECURITY
13.1 Analytical Laboratories
Due to the remote location of the Kupol Project and the difficulties with shipments of
samples within and from Russia, a containerized field laboratory was set up at the
Kupol site, and was responsible for all assays between 2003 and 2008. The facility
was set up and run as an independent ‘arms length’ laboratory that operated as a
Russian-certificated Anyusk Geological Expedition field laboratory (Kupol Laboratory).
The laboratory was overseen by qualified North American laboratory managers that
supervised Russian-certified assayers. A selection of pulps is required to be submitted
by the Kupol laboratory to a Russian laboratory for periodic verification in order to
maintain certification.
Laboratory preparation and analytical protocols have Russian translations and
represent a compromise to meet or exceed Russian regulatory requirements and
North American accepted practices.
During 2008, the site analytical laboratory was moved to new premises within the
Kupol mill building.
The 2008-09 bi-annual program included an external check at an outside laboratory for
samples by the geology department. Approximately 400 pulps were collected and
shipped to an external lab in Magadan. All other sampling and assaying is done at the
Kupol mine. The lab is responsible to send a selection of pulps to a Russian laboratory
for periodic verification in order to maintain certification.