Business Park B 1 & 2,

11 Electron Close, Kya Sands, 2169 Randburg,

RSA
PO Box 742 Lanseria, 1748 South Africa
Tel: +27(0) 11 708 2373; Fax: +27(0) 86 626 4982
admin@qotho.co.za visit us www.qotho.co.za
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

QOTHO REFERENCE MATERIAL

QRM-3-045
NICKEL CONCENTRATE

ANALYTICAL REPORT

ASSIGNED VALUES
ANALYTES UNITS CONCENTRATIONS EXPANDED UNCERTAINTY
Al2O3 % 1.117 ±0.169
As % 0.347 ±0.018
CaO % 1.232 ±0.078
Co % 0.375 ±0.007
Cr2O3 % 0.718 ±0.125
Cu % 3.642 ±0.104
MgO % 5.756 ±0.378
Ni % 6.208 ±0.021
Pb % 0.060 ±0.026
S % 33.023 ±1.997
SiO2 % 12.461 ±1.184
Zn % 0.034 ±0.015

Page 1 of 4 QRM-3-045
 Business Park B 1 & 2,
11 Electron Close, Kya Sands, 2169 Randburg,
RSA
PO Box 742 Lanseria, 1748 South Africa
Tel: +27(0) 11 708 2373; Fax: +27(0) 86 626 4982
admin@qotho.co.za visit us www.qotho.co.za
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1 Use:
QRM-3-045 is a reference material which is suitable for use as random control samples in routine analytical laboratory quality
control, when inserted within a batch of samples and measured in parallel to the unknown.

2 Origin of Material:
The material was sponsored by Nkomati Nickel Mine, Mpumalanga, South Africa. It is a product from their flotation process
plant.

3 Mineral and Chemical Composition:

The material originates from the Uitkomst Complex, which is a Bushveld-age, layered body that intruded into the basal
sediments of the Transvaal Supergroup. The complex is cogenetic with the Rustenburg Layered Suite (RLS) of the Bushveld
Complex. Mafic-ultramafic rocks of the complex host sulfide mineralization. The nickel is mined in the shallower
economically mineralized parts of the Main Mineralized Zone (MMZ) of the Complex.

4 Date of Initial Issue:

22 May 2019.

5 Packaging & Handling instructions:

The material is packaged in 100g geo-packs, within vacuum sealed Aluminium foil. Open the seal of the foil with care and
shake or otherwise agitate prior to use. Normal safety precautions for handling fine particulate matter are recommended,
such as the use of safety glasses, breathing protection, gloves and a laboratory coat. Once opened, material must be stored
in a cool, dry environment. Results on page 1 is presented on dry basis. Analysis should therefore be done on dry basis, for
at least 2 hours, at 105 degrees Celsius.

6 Method of Preparation:
The material was sieved through a 75-micron screen and the oversize was re-milled to ensure 100% passing through the
screen. It was then blended, systematically divided and packaged into 100g Zip-lock bags. Randomly selected samples,
from the zip-lock bags were tested inhouse, by XRF, to confirm homogeneity. Once confirmed and certification completed
(if possible), the zip-lock bags will be placed in geo-bags and vacuum sealed in aluminium foil envelopes.

7 Methods of Analysis used:

1. Multi-acid digestion with ICP and/or AAS finish
2. Multi-acid digestion with auto-titration finish
3. Sodium Peroxide Fusion with ICP finish

8 Analysis required:
An instruction letter was sent to all participants. All results were reported as g/t. The analysis required was noted in the
instruction letter and reporting template, including but not limited to Al, As, CaO, Co, Cr2O3, Cu, FeO, MgO, Ni, Pb, S, SiO2
& Zn.

9 Participating Laboratories:

NO LABORATORY COUNTRY
1. Alex Stewart International UK UK
2. ALS Geochemistry Kempton Park South Africa
3. ALS Inspection UK UK
4. Bindura Nickel Corporation Zimbabwe

Page 2 of 4 QRM-3-045
 Business Park B 1 & 2,
11 Electron Close, Kya Sands, 2169 Randburg,
RSA
PO Box 742 Lanseria, 1748 South Africa
Tel: +27(0) 11 708 2373; Fax: +27(0) 86 626 4982
admin@qotho.co.za visit us www.qotho.co.za
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NO LABORATORY COUNTRY
5. Mimosa Mine Zimbabwe
6. Mitra Sk South Africa South Africa
7. Nkomati JV South Africa
8. SGS Netherlands BV Netherlands
9. UIS Analytical Services ICP South Africa
10. UIS Analytical Services XRF South Africa

10 Assay Data:

Data used for assigning values, after removal of outliers:

Co Cu Ni
Laboratory Al2O3 As CaO Co Cr2O3 Cu FeO MgO Ni Pb S SiO2 Zn
(Soluble) (Soluble) (Soluble)
Unit % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
LAB001 0.400 3.780 5.740
LAB002 1.172 1.168 0.378 0.785 3.632 39.840 6.078 0.066 31.350 12.960 0.021
LAB003 1.155 0.335 1.210 0.380 0.740 3.655 5.945 6.220 0.078 31.925 12.480 0.030
LAB004 6.230
LAB005 1.019 1.302 0.368 0.456 3.518 30.885 5.316 6.226 11.415 0.066
LAB006 1.240 0.340 1.286 0.359 0.371 0.776 3.601 3.716 39.684 5.728 6.189 6.265 0.042 36.050 12.006 0.033
LAB007 0.992 0.360 1.224 0.380 3.700 5.660 6.190 0.058 32.555 12.430 0.030
LAB008 1.082 0.347 1.190 0.384 0.706 3.651 5.917 6.207 0.067 32.710 13.790 0.044
LAB009 0.351 1.245 0.378 3.780 37.180 5.480 0.050 33.600 0.028
LAB010 1.160 0.351 0.368 3.607 39.867 5.925 6.180 33.470 12.150
LAB011 6.220

11 Method of Assigning Values:

QLS is a SANAS Accredited Proficiency Testing Scheme Provider, No. PTS0012
This material was distributed as test item in a Qotho PT rounds. (Round 2 2019). Ten laboratories were each given 1
randomly selected sample from the batch, to analyze and report on in duplicate. One lab laboratories reported results via
different methodologies. Obvious blunders were removed, after which the data was processed using Robust Statistics,
through PROLab Plus, and all statistical outliers (as per ISO 5725-2 1994) as well as data that returned z’-scores > |2|, were
removed from the dataset.

Not all the participating laboratories were accredited. Equivalence tests were performed on all analytes, of the remaining
data, to determine whether the data from the accredited and non-accredited laboratories, can be treated as equal (at a
level of significance of α = 0.05). Where equivalent, all the data was used. Where not, only the data from the accredited
laboratories were considered. Certification of analytes were then done, provided that a minimum of 10 datapoints
remained available.
Where analytes cannot be certified, estimate concentrations were assigned, using all the data in the dataset, after the
outliers and z’-scores > |2|, were removed.

12 Measurement of Uncertainty:
Measurement uncertainty, uCRM, was calculated according to ISO 13528:2015 (equation 6), and it includes the effects of
uncertainty due to inhomogeneity, transport, instability and laboratory uncertainty. Because of all the uncertainties under
Page 3 of 4 QRM-3-045
 Business Park B 1 & 2,
11 Electron Close, Kya Sands, 2169 Randburg,
RSA
PO Box 742 Lanseria, 1748 South Africa
Tel: +27(0) 11 708 2373; Fax: +27(0) 86 626 4982
admin@qotho.co.za visit us www.qotho.co.za
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

consideration, QLS further applies an expanded uncertainty, for certification purposes. UCRM = kuCRM, where k is a coverage
factor, which is determined from the Student’s t-distribution, based on the degrees of freedom, per analyte.

This presents a certified value, as follows: 𝑥CRM ± UCRM.

Measurement uncertainty for Assigned values, are calculated in the same manner.

13 Metrological Traceability:
The values quoted herein are based on the consensus values derived from statistical analysis of the data from an inter
laboratory measurement program. Traceability to SI units is via the standards used by the individual laboratories, the
majority of which are accredited and who have maintained measurement traceability during the analytical process.

14 Minimum Sample Size:

The recommended minimum sample size for the use of this material is as per the participants method validation criteria.

15 Period of validity:
The certified values are valid for this product, while still sealed in its original packaging, for a minimum period of 5 years
from date of Initial Certification. Stability monitoring of inventory will be done at regular intervals. Any concerns regarding
potential instability of the material, will immediately be communicated to all consumers.

16 Legal:

This certificate and the reference material described in it have been prepared with due care and attention. The
requirements of ISO Guide 31, ISO 17043 and ISO 17034 were followed in the preparation of this reference material and
certificate of analysis.

Qotho Laboratory Services, however, accepts no liability for any decisions or actions taken following the use of the
reference material. The company has a complaints procedure, which will be made available upon request, should there
be any dissatisfaction with either the product or the COA/Analytical Report.

Technical Signatory Technical Signatory

Dr H de Beer Mrs L Smit

(Qotho Managing Director) 22 May 2019 (Qotho Technical Manager) 22 May 2019

END

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