ECHANT: sampling calculator for mining
Solve sampling problems in mining, mineral processing, and extractive metallurgy. Define efficient sampling strategies. Better monitor your process.
Measurement errors arise from two main sources : analytical error and sampling error. Sampling error is a major focus when dealing with solid materials. It results mainly from the heterogeneity of the material to sample and the difficulty in collecting a representative sample. ECHANT is an all-in-one sampling calculator. It calculates both the sampling mass and the sampling error.
Finally a complete tool to design solids sampling plan!
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Develop optimal sampling plan in mining, mineral processing and extractive metallurgy
ECHANT is a sampling calculator helping you to design reliable sampling protocols for any solid material and calculate the Fundamental Sampling Error (FSE). ECHANT is based on the theory of sampling (TOS) developed by Pierre Gy.
Used in correlation with BILCO software data reconciliation by mass balancing, ECHANT will assist you to get the most reliable data on the material studied before any decision making (sale of material, quality audit, process design, optimization…).
In addition to ECHANT software, CASPEO could audit or develop for you sampling protocols and samples preparation procedures.
All-in-one sampling calculator
Fine characterization of the material batch
Step-by-step sampling plan design and error calculation
Embedded scenarios for various applications
Plot of the FSE variation versus the sample mass
With ECHANT, develop sampling best-practices in mineral processing
Precise knowledge of the sampling error
Guarantee sampling procedures accuracy
Representative samples
Key step for data reconciliation
Improve product quality
Key step for risk assessment
Deliver reliable data for decision-making
ECHANT enables to calculate the Fundamental Sampling Error (FSE) for a given mass and vice versa.
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Design a sampling plan by setting limits for FSE
Calculate a sample size, i.e. estimate the minimum mass of sample needed to achieve a specific fundamental sampling error.
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Calculate the fundamental sampling error of a proposed sampling plan
Calculate a margin of error, i.e. estimate the maximum sampling error for a given mass of sample.
Fundamental Sampling Error (FSE), the main indicator for quality of samples
Derive accurate mass and metallurgical balances
The heterogeneity is the main source of sampling errors when dealing with solids and complex mixtures like ores, concentrates, tailings and waste. It affects the quantities of material required for reliable sampling.
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Characterize the physical properties of the material sampled
ECHANT estimates one contribution of the uncertainty arising from your material own characteristics, called the Fundamental Sampling Error (FSE). With ECHANT, study different parameters: content, concentration, moisture, particle size distribution…
If values are unknown, ECHANT estimates them from other known parameters and adjust the calculations.
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Monitor the performance of your mineral processing plant
More and more regarded as an important quality indicator, sampling error calculation will help you to increase value through sampling best-practice.
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Technical and financial risk assessment
The feasibility of a project is based on measurements performed on samples. The technical and financial risk is directly linked to the measurement error. Improving sampling helps to reduce the risk.
Design mining samping plans easily
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All-in-one sampling calculator
With ECHANT, you don’t need to juggle with several interfaces to calculate either the sampling error or the sample size.
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Pre-established scenarios of sampling studies
ECHANT aids at every step of the process for calculation of the sampling error and the sample size.
It guides you through various material examples illustrating the diversity of heterogeneity description.
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A graphical interface to derive “ What-If ” scenarios
ECHANT package offers graphics to follow the FSE variation versus the sample mass allowing to derive sensitivity studies.
Still using an empirical approach? Speed up the measurement of uncertainty with our sampling calculator, ECHANT.
Sample heterogeneous materials from mining to metallurgy
With ECHANT™, you can create robust sampling plans and evaluate sampling errors for a variety of materials:
- Ores – analyze particle size distribution, mineral or chemical content (e.g., gold, silver, copper, carbonates), and moisture for grade control, feed blending, and process optimization
- Industrial residues (slags, tailings, and process by-products) – determine pollutant levels such as arsenic, sulphides, or mercury to guide safe disposal or potential reprocessing
- Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and end-of-life batteries – assess composition and metal content in secondary materials to enhance recovery of precious and critical metals
- Soils – measure particle size and moisture to support mining site management and operational planning
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Polluted soils – quantify contamination levels (hydrocarbons, metals, and other pollutants) for environmental monitoring and site rehabilitation.
Originally designed for ores and concentrates, ECHANT™ is also applicable to solids and solid mixtures (particles, aggregates, two-phase materials) across diverse sectors such as industrial waste, food and biomass, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and more
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