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https://www.youtube.com/@valls_geoconsultant?sub_confirmation=1 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 In this episode, "A geologist and a lab technician walk into a bar…," we dive deep into the symbiotic nexus required for successful mineral exploration, focusing on the rigorous geochemistry and sample preparation processes that guarantee data integrity for risk management. We detail how junior and senior geologists must conduct a fair lab audit using best practices like "treat me as a sample" to ensure QA/QC standards are met, particularly concerning analytical techniques (like ICP-MS and XRF) and the accurate reporting of detection limits needed to build robust 3D geological models. This video targets the entire geological community, including students of earth science, structural geologists, and ore prospectors, by clarifying how poor QA/QC can jeopardize resource classification and economic estimation. We illuminate the fundamental difference between analytical approaches: the use of partial digestion (like Aqua Regia) for detecting subtle anomalous geochemical patterns during early-stage exploration, versus near-total digestion methods required for accurate metal quantification in the resource definition phase. 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 #valls_geoconsultant #Geochemistry #LabAudit #Geometallurgy References ALS Global. (2024). Geochemistry. ALS Global. (n.d.). Super trace analysis: Improved detection limits for key pathfinders [Geochemistry Technical Note]. Bruker. (n.d.). Process mineralogy. Bureau Veritas. (n.d.). Metals & minerals. Colorado School of Mines. (2025). Automated mineralogy laboratory. Colorado School of Mines. (2025). Laboratories. Cook, S. J., & Dunn, C. E. (2007). A comparative assessment of soil geochemical methods for detecting buried mineral deposits – 3Ts Au-Ag prospect, Central British Columbia (Geoscience BC Report 2007-7; GEOSCIENCE BC PAPER 2007-7). Geoscience BC. Core Case. (2023). QAQC applied to the mining industry. Davis, C. R., Anderson, J. M., Tavchandjian, O., & Cochrane, L. B. (2003). Quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) for resource estimation at Inco Technical Services Limited. Exploration and Mining Geology, 10(4), 303–312. Intertek. (n.d.). Minerals geochemistry. Maptek. (2023, June). Decisions at all layers of ore control. Forge Newsletter. McInerney, P., Guillen, A., Courrioux, G., Calcagno, P., & Lees, T. (2005). Building 3D geological models directly from the data? A new approach applied to Broken Hill, Australia (U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1428). U.S. Geological Survey. McLemore, V. T. (2020). ME589/Geol571 advanced topics: Geology and economics of strategic and critical minerals [Course materials]. National Geological Surveys Committee. (2017). Collaborative public geoscience to support the junior mineral exploration sector (Catalogue Number M4-151/2022E-PDF). Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference. 911Metallurgist. (n.d.). Geometallurgy: Integrating geology and metallurgy. Parquer, M. N., de Kemp, E. A., Brodaric, B., & Hillier, M. J. (2025). Checking the consistency of 3D geological models. Geoscientific Model Development, 18, 71–100. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-71-2025 Research Capital Corporation. (2021, September 3). Mining exploration – assay delays causing headaches for everyone. Richards, R. (2012, May). Deep penetrating geochemistry (DPG) field protocols. ABM Resources NL. SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA. (2025). Mining. Simón, A., & Gosson, G. (2007, September). Quality control reporting requirements by the mining industry. The symbiotic nexus: Geologist-laboratory collaboration as the strategic foundation for mineral success. (n.d.). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2004, July). Field and sampling issues that affect laboratory measurements (Chapter 10). MARLAP Manual Volume II. Valls, R. (n.d.). GD33a How to do a fair audit of your lab [Video]. YouTube. Valls, R. (n.d.). Here is how to effectively process results from different laboratories [Video]. YouTube. VRAY Instrument. (2025, June 7). What is the difference between ICP and XRF? Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Geometallurgy. In Wikipedia.