The INCREMENT DELIMITATION ERROR

at the laboratory

S am p le
in crem en t

This sampling procedure is very important at the laboratory.

However, it has been misused in a fascinating fraud case in
commercial sampling.

1
The simplicity of sampling using
a one-dimensional model

S am p le
in crem en t

2
 The sampling tool may not respect
the rules of delimitation correctness.

A B

In co m p le te, C o m p lete ,
in c o rrec t c o rre c t
in c re m e n t in c re m e n t

3
 Correct design of a shovel,
scoop, and spatula

In c o rre c t d e sign C o rre c t d e sign

S p a tu la

Scoop

S h o ve l

4
 Exercise:
What is basically incorrect with the
selected increments?

5
 Similarities between the increment
process and the splitting process

In crem en t p ro cess S p littin g p ro cess

1. S am pling point se le ction 1 . F ractio n d elim itatio n

2. E xtension of increm ent delim itation 2. F raction separation

3. Incre m ent extraction 3. C reation of tw o potential sam ples

4. Incre m e nt reunion 4. S am ple se lection

6
The poor use of a riffle splitter:
A sure delimitation bias

7
The use of a receiving bucket to feed the
riffle splitter: A sure delimitation bias

O r, even w o rse:

8
 The correct use of the riffle splitter
requires the following conditions:

1. All the chutes are the same width.

2. There are the same number of chutes on both sides.
3. The feeding shovel has exactly the same width as the
effective opening of all chutes combined.
4. Separations between chutes are very narrow blades.
5. Feed the riffle splitter slowly, in the middle.
6. The sample must be selected at random, or alternated
from one side to the next.
7. Both potential samples must have equal weights and
similar particle size distributions.

9
 The delimitation correctness of coning
and quartering

B
A C

A C

Coning and quartering may not be effective to minimize the

Grouping and Segregation Error, but the delimitation of the
increments is correct.

10
 How can biased increments lead to an
accurate sample?

9 .. .
5 , 7,
3,
p 1,
o
S co

Sco
op
2,
4, 6
, 8.
..

For alternate shoveling, the job is

never completed before the
original lot is entirely gone. Then,
and only then, one of the two
new piles can be selected at
random as a sample.

11
Illustration of an incorrect rotary divider

B in + V ib ro -co nveyo r

S trea m

12
 Illustration of a correct rotary divider

C o rre c t, ra d ia l in c re m e n t

3
4

1. H o p p er 2. V ib rating c o nveyo r 3. V ib ratio n generato r 4. R evo lving feed er

5. R ad ial, s ec to rial s p litter + to p view 6. Jars 7. M o to r and gear

13
Illustration of a typical rotary divider

14