This International Standard sets out the basic methods for sampling copper, lead, zinc and nickel
concentrates from moving streams and stationary lots, including stopped-belt sampling, to provide samples for
chemical analysis, physical testing and determination of moisture content, in accordance with the relevant
International Standards. Where the concentrates are susceptible to significant oxidation or decomposition, it is
necessary to use a common sample for moisture determination and chemical analysis to eliminate bias (see
ISO 10251). In such cases, the common sample must be sufficiently representative, i.e. unbiased and
sufficiently precise, for chemical analysis and determination of moisture content. Any large agglomerates
(> 10 mm) present in the primary sample should be crushed prior to further sample processing. Sampling of
concentrates in slurry form is specifically excluded from this International Standard.
Stopped-belt sampling is the reference method for collecting concentrate samples against which mechanical
and manual-sampling procedures may be compared. Sampling from moving streams is the preferred method.
Both falling-stream and cross-belt samplers are described.
Sampling from stationary lots is used only where sampling from moving streams is not possible. The
procedures described in this International Standard, for sampling from stationary lots, only minimize some of
the systematic sampling errors.
ISO 12743:2006 Referenced Document
ISO 10251 Copper, lead, zinc and nickel concentrates - Determination of mass loss of bulk material on drying
ISO 12744 Copper, lead, zinc and nickel concentrates - Experimental methods for checking the precision of sampling
ISO 13292 Copper, lead, zinc and nickel concentrates - Experimental methods for checking the bias of sampling
ISO 12743:2006 history
2021ISO 12743:2021 Copper, lead, zinc and nickel concentrates - Sampling procedures for determination of metal and moisture content
2018ISO 12743:2018 Copper, lead, zinc and nickel concentrates - Sampling procedures for determination of metal and moisture content
2006ISO 12743:2006 Copper, lead, zinc and nickel concentrates - Sampling procedures for determination of metal and moisture content
1998ISO 12743:1998 Copper, lead and zinc sulfide concentrates - Sampling procedures for determination of metal and moisture content