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Geologists: conduct a fair lab audit for accurate results. For more videos about geology, geochemistry, AI, and much more, please visit and subscribe for free here: Golden droplets- https://shorturl.at/fetV1 Geovoices- https://tinyurl.com/m23pp4pb News about geology- https://tinyurl.com/3979urhy STOP Auditing Your Lab WRONG! Geologist's Secret. This video provides the essential guide for junior and senior geologists on how to conduct a fair and objective audit of a lab to ensure high-quality geochemical data and accurate results for your exploration projects (Valls, n.d.-a; Smee, n.d.-a; Geboy & Engle, 2011). The rigorous systematic examination and testing provided by laboratory analysis are crucial in understanding geological formations and processes, complementing field observations and allowing geoscientists to draw conclusions based on empirical evidence (Fiveable, 2025; National Geological Surveys Committee, 2022). The principal investigator (geologist) ultimately remains responsible for the quality and interpretation of the project's findings, necessitating a deep understanding of Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) protocols throughout the project's life (Geboy & Engle, 2011). A proper lab audit should begin with an announced visit, as recommended, to ensure staff availability, and involves treating the auditor as a sample to trace the entire process step-by-step (Valls, n.d.-a). Crucial steps to verify start with the sample reception area, checking procedures for sequencing, duplicate numbers, or tampered sample bags (Valls, n.d.-a). Weight checking is vital for controlling the chain of custody and normalizing data, requiring a comparison between the sample weight leaving the field and the weight upon arrival at the lab (Valls, n.d.-a). Special attention must be paid to the sample preparation area, specifically the crushers and pulverizers, where cleanliness is critical to prevent contamination, especially from dust, which can affect analytical data (Valls, n.d.-a; Mineral Laboratory Assistant III, n.d.). High-quality laboratories should utilize systems to control dust emission or, ideally, use dedicated lines of machinery for specialized samples like high-grade ore (Valls, n.d.-a). The most important technical verification step is the granulometry check, which confirms that the resulting pulp is truly representative of the initial material taken from the field, meeting the required mesh size specifications (Valls, n.d.-a; McLemore, 2020). Geologists must embed specific QA/QC requirements, such as machine cleaning intervals and procedures for dealing with quality control failures, directly into the contractual agreements with the laboratory (Valls, n.d.-a). Furthermore, the geologist must introduce their own independent quality control samples—including blanks, duplicates, and certified reference materials (RMs)—to monitor the precision and accuracy of the results, preventing the subconscious "handling with kid gloves" of RMs by analysts who know the standard's value (Valls, n.d.-a; McLemore, 2020; Geboy & Engle, 2011). Finally, laboratory analysis includes chemical processes like fire assay or multi-element analysis, which require chemical expertise and clean working environments, including solid, non-vibrating tables for analytical balances used for gravimetric measurements (Valls, n.d.-a). All these steps, when properly documented in a Quality Assurance report, provide crucial evidence required by qualified persons (QPs) for technical reports and regulatory compliance (Valls, n.d.-a; Smee, n.d.-a; McLemore, 2020). The bridge between Academy and Industry! P. Geo. Ricardo A Valls, M. Sc. and Geo Gadfly Valls Geoconsultant ORCID ID- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5421-0914 Scopus Author ID: 7003369619/35335510700 ResearcherID: S-6604-2018 If you like this content, please "buy me a coffee" https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goldendroplets #vallsgeoconsultant #LabAudit #Geochemistry #Exploration Some References Bristow, J., Lawless, P., McKechnie, B., & Haggerty, S. (2024). Celebrating the lives and contributions of colleagues, geologists, mineralogists and legends who shaped the diamond legacy (12th International Kimberlite Conference Extended Abstract No. 12IKC-SPEC-2024). Cohen, R., Maes, S., & Hishe, H. (n.d.). Practitioner-researcher partnerships: Perspectives from two sides of the same coin. KU Leuven, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Fiveable Inc. (2025). Laboratory analysis. In Intro to geology review: Key term. Glazner, A. F., Baker, V. R., Bartley, J. M., Bohacs, K. M., & Coleman, D. S. (2022). The rocks don’t lie, but they can be misunderstood. GSA Today, 32(10), 4–10. https://doi.org/10.1130/GSATG535A.1 Province of British Columbia. (2013). Quality control and quality assurance. Field Sampling Manual, Part A. Smee, B. W. (2025). How to audit a laboratory [Seminar]. Smee and Associates Consulting Ltd.