Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02716698 2010-10-06
"SAMPLING SYSTEM AND METHOD"
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sampling system and method.
BACKGROUND
Although the present invention will be described with particular reference to
mining and
mineral exploration drill hole sampling, it is to be understood that the
present invention
may be used for other purposes. For example, it may also be used in the oil
and gas
industry.
A typical mining or mineral exploration drill hole sampling operation involves
using a
suitable drilling rig to drill one or more holes into the ground in a target
area to obtain
subterranean rock samples at predetermined depths.
Typically, each sample that is obtained from a drill hole during a sampling
operation is
placed in its own sample bag, and all of the sample bags for the hole are
numbered
sequentially for identification purposes.
For each sample bag, a record is kept of the information such as drill hole
from which the
sample contained in the sample bag was obtained, the depth at which the sample
was
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obtained and the particular drill rig that was used to drill the hole. This
information is
often recorded on a computer in a spreadsheet or the like.
After drilling of a hole is completed, the sample bags containing the samples
from the
hole are sent to an assay lab to assay the samples. Additionally, it is common
practice to
insert sample bags containing control material which are also sent to the
assay lab for
quality assurance and quality control (QAQC) purposes.
The control material that is placed in a particular sample bag for QAQC
purposes is
usually selected from standard, blank, or duplicate material. Standard
material is material
that contains a known percentage of a certain mineral or minerals. Such
material is used
to assist in determining whether the assay lab is correctly reporting the
mineral content of
the samples.
Blank material is material that does not contain certain minerals at all. Such
material is
used to assist in determining the cleanliness of the assay lab's equipment.
Duplicate material is material that is taken from a drill hole sample. Such
material is used
for the purposes of determining the consistency of the assay results.
For each of the supplied sample bags, the assay lab assays the material
contained in the
sample bag, and provides the assay results for the material contained in the
sample bag
along with the number of the sample bag.
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The assay results for each sample bag are then added to the other recorded
data for the
drill hole. It is then normal practice for a geologist to carry out a QAQC
check based
upon the inserted samples to ensure the integrity of the results.
A drawback of the above-described sampling method is that it relies on the use
of
numbered sample bags. The sampling method is susceptible to human
typographical and
handling errors which can reduce the integrity of the data that is obtained.
Also, the
samples that are obtained using the method are susceptible to being mixed in
the field or
in the lab.
Further, the method is susceptible to human spreadsheet input errors.
In addition, it requires the usage of manual checklists in the field, which
can be
problematic. The use of manual checklists is time consuming and any error may
reduce
the confidence in the sample data generated.
Furthermore, the numbers of the sample bags that contain control material are
often out
of sequence with the numbers of the other sample bags due to the sample bags
containing
the control material being inserted later. As a result, the sample bags
containing the
control material can consequently be easily identified by the assay lab so
that the integrity
of the assay results produced by the lab is questionable.
In an effort to address at least some of the above-mentioned drawbacks,
barcodes and
bar-code scanners are now being used to identify drill hole sample bags.
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However, the use of bar-codes and bar-code scanners to identify drill hole
sample bags
can be problematic because bar-code scanners rely on optics and are unable to
read a bar-
code that is covered in mud, dust or water, damaged or obscured by an object.
Further, it
s is known that the use of bar-code scanners introduces an additional manual
handling step
as the operator must manipulate the bag to make the bar-code readable if it is
obscured.
It would be desirable to have a means of identifying drill hole samples That
at least
partially alleviates the aforementioned deficiencies, and that is able to
increase the
effectiveness of the mining and mineral exploration drill hole sampling
process.
SUMMARY
The present invention seeks to at least alleviate, one or more of the
deficiencies of the
prior art mentioned above, or to provide the consumer with a useful commercial
choice.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a
sampling method
comprising the steps of:
Associating each one of a plurality of radio-frequency identification tag
devices
with a respective sample;
Electronically writing sample identification data to each of the plurality of
radio-
frequency identification devices;
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Electronically reading the sample identification data on the device associated
with
each of the samples to generate a second set of data;
Preferably, the samples comprise samples of minerals or samples from the oil
and gas
industry. In a particular preferred form of the present invention, the samples
are drill hole
mineral samples.
Preferably, the step of associating the radio frequency identification tag
devices with the
samples comprises securing, attaching, or affixing the devices relative to the
samples. If
the samples are stored in bags, the devices may be RFID tags that may be
secured to the
bags, or the devices may be incorporated into the bags, or the devices may be
RFID tags
in the form of adhesive labels that may be detachably secured to the bags.
More preferably, one or more of the samples may be QAQC samples. For example,
one
or more of the samples may be standard, blank or duplicate sample.
Yet more preferably, the method of the present invention further comprises the
additional
step of writing QAQC data to some of the RFID tags devices.
Yet more preferably, the method of the present invention further comprises the
step of
storing additional data with the sample identification data on the RFID
device.
Additional data that is stored with the sample identification data may
comprise memory
position, hole identification, rig identification, date and time, depth,
and/or sample type
data.
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More preferably, the method of the present invention further comprises the
step of
sending the samples generated for testing.
Yet more preferably, the step of testing the samples comprises assaying the
samples.
Still yet more preferably, the step of combining the test results with at
least some of the
additional stored data for each sample comprises merging the test result with
the
additional stored data for each sample.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a
sampling
system comprising a plurality of RFID tags devices for associating with a
plurality of
samples, a RFID apparatus capable of writing sample identification data to
each of the
devices, a RFID apparatus capable of reading sample identification data from
the device
associated with each of the samples.
Preferably, the RFID device includes an integrated circuit. It is preferred
that the device
also includes an antenna coupled to the integrated circuit.
Preferably, there is provided an RFID device-reading and writing apparatus for
use with
the above-defined method or system of the present invention.
More preferably, there is provided a container assembly comprising a container
and a
RFID device incorporated into the container.
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Still more preferably, the container is a bag. It is preferred that the bag is
a mining or
mineral sample bag. In a particular preferred form, the bag is a standard
mining sample
bag.
Still yet more preferably, the RFID device that is incorporated into the
container includes
an integrated circuit. It is preferred that a device also includes an antenna
coupled with
the integrated circuit.
to The RFID tags device may be incorporated into the container in any suitable
manner. For
example, if the container is a bag, the RFID tags device may be secured
relative to the
bag such that the device is located inside the bag adjacent to a seam of the
bag. In a
particular preferred form, the RFID tags device is sown into the bag.
DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
In order that the invention may be more fully understood and put into
practice, a preferred
embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings,
in which:
Figure 1 depicts a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag device in form of
a radio-
frequency identification (RFID) tag;
Figure 2 depicts a first type of RFID device - reading and writing apparatus;
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Figure 3 depicts a second type of RFID device - reading and writing apparatus;
Figure 4 is a flow-chart of a sampling method according to a preferred
embodiment of the
s present invention for reverse circulation drill hole samples;
Figure 5 depicts a sample bag tagged with a respective RFID device of the type
depicted
in figure 1;
Figure 6 is a flow chart of a sampling method according to a preferred
embodiment of the
present invention for diamond drill hole samples;
Figure 7 is an example of a table of data which is captured in when the
apparatus 30 is
configured in read only mode.
Figure 8 is an example of a table of data which is captured in an assay lab
when the radio-
frequency identification devices of the samples listed in the table depicted
in figure 8 are
read by a radio-frequency identification device-writing apparatus; and
Figure 9 is an example of a table produced by combining the data table
depicted in figure
8 with the assay results of the samples listed in that table;
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to figure 1, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag device in
the form of
RFID tags 20 comprising a housing 21 is shown. The housing 21 contains various
electronic components including an antenna for receiving and transmitting a
radio
frequency (RF) signal, and an integrated circuit/micro-chip for storing and
processing
information, modulating and demodulating the RF signal, and other specialised
functions.
Preferably, the RFID tags 20 are capable of storing data that is encrypted.
Further, the
RFID tags 20 may be able to hold data in password protected memory
allocations. Such
memory allocations requiring the correct password to be entered on an RFID
device-
reading and writing apparatus before transmission of data stored therein.
A first type of RFID device-reading and writing apparatus 30 is depicted in
figure 2. The
apparatus 30 includes a housing 31. The housing 31 is a heavy duty and robust
type that
is particularly suitable for heavy industry and mining environments. The
housing 31
contains the various electronic components of the apparatus 30; including
electronic
components that enable it to read and write information to and from the RFID
tags 20, as
well as electronic components such as memory that enable it to store
information
internally. The Apparatus 30 may further comprise Global Positioning Satellite
(GPS)
equipment necessary to produce location data to be written to the RFID tags 20
as they
are associated with a sample.
The Apparatus 30 further comprises a digital display 32 and a keypad 33 which
are
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CA 02716698 2010-10-06
located on an upper surface 34 of the housing 31. The display 32 is operable
to display
information related to the functioning of the apparatus 30 such as information
that the
apparatus 30 reads from and/or writes to the RFID tags 20. The keypad 33 is
operable to
control the functioning of the apparatus 30 and includes a numeric keypad 35,
as well as
other buttons, such as QAQC buttons to allow the operator to enter information
as
required.
The apparatus 30 is afforded a handle 37 which extends from the housing 31 so
that the
apparatus 30 may be held by an operator.
The Apparatus 30 further comprises a data transmission means (not shown). The
data
transmission means (not shown) enables information to be uploaded and
downloaded
from the memory of the apparatus 30.
In a particular preferred form the data transmission means could take the form
of a
Bluetooth, SD memory card, Ethernet or Wireless (IEEE802.11 family)
connection.
Preferably, the data transmission means (not shown) comprises a Universal
Serial Bus
(USB) interface.
Further, the data transferring means (not shown) may enable the apparatus 30
to be
connected to a personal computer (not shown) so that the computer and the
apparatus 30
are able to communicate with each other. Whilst connected to a personal
computer, it is
expected that the personal computer will provides a user interface for the
apparatus 30.
CA 02716698 2010-10-06
Although the apparatus 30 as described above are radio-frequency device-
reading and
writing apparatus, they may alternatively be configured as dedicated radio-
frequency
device-reading apparatus, or dedicated radio- frequency device-writing
apparatus. Such
configuration changes to the apparatus 30 may be achieved through the entering
of a
password using the keypad 33 or may be set at the time of manufacture of the
apparatus
30.
When the apparatus 30 is configured as dedicated radio-frequency device-
reading
apparatus, it is only able to read data from the RFID tags 20, and is unable
to write data to
the RFID tags 20. Further, the apparatus 30 may be configured to only be able
to read
selected data from the RFID tags 20. Conversely, when the apparatus 30 is
configured as
dedicated radio-frequency device-writing apparatus, it is only able to write
data to the
RFID tags 20, and is unable to read data from the RFID tags 20.
Preferably, the level of information made available to an operator of the
apparatus 30 may
be dependent upon a password being entered prior to scanning an RFID tag 20.
As would
be apparent when the apparatus 30 is configured as a RFID device reader it can
not
transmit password data back to the RFID tags 20 and hence the amount of
information
readable by the operator is limited.
A second type of RFID device-reading and writing apparatus 40 is depicted in
figure 3.
The Apparatus 40 comprises a housing 41. The housing 41 is a heavy duty and
robust
type that is particularly suitable for heavy industry and mining environments.
The
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housing 41 contains the various electronic components of the apparatus 40;
including
electronic components that enable it to read and write information to and from
the RFID
tags 20, as well as electronic components such as memory that enable it to
store
information internally. The Apparatus 40 may further comprise Global
Positioning
Satellite (GPS) equipment necessary to produce location data to be written to
the RFID
tags 20 as they are associated with a sample.
The Apparatus 40 further comprises a digital display 42 and a keypad 43 which
are
located on an upper surface 44 of the housing 41. The display 42 is operable
to display
information related to the functioning of the apparatus 40 such as information
that the
apparatus 40 reads from and/or writes to the RFID tags 20. The keypad 43 is
operable to
control the functioning of the apparatus 40 and includes a numeric keypad 45,
as well as
other buttons, such as QAQC buttons to allow the operator to enter information
as
required.
The Apparatus 40 further comprises a data transmission means (not shown). The
data
transmission means (not shown) enables information to be uploaded and
downloaded
from the memory of the apparatus 40.
In a particular preferred form the data transmission means could take the form
or a
Bluetooth, SD memory card, Ethernet or Wireless (IEEE802.11 family)
connection.
Preferably, the data transmission means (not shown) comprises a Universal
Serial Bus
(USB) interface;
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Further, the data transferring means (not shown) may enable the apparatus 40
to be
connected to a personal computer (not depicted) so that the computer and the
apparatus
40 are able to communicate with each other. Whilst connected to a personal
computer, it
is expected that the personal computer will provides a user interface for the
apparatus 40.
Although the apparatus 40 as described above are radio-frequency device-
reading and
writing apparatus, they may alternatively be configured as dedicated radio-
frequency
device-reading apparatus, or dedicated radio- frequency device-writing
apparatus. Whilst
configured in one of these alternate modes the apparatus 40 operates in the
same manner
as the apparatus 30 when in similar modes as described above.
Figure 4 depicts a flowchart of a preferred embodiment of the sampling method
50 for
reverse circulation drill hole samples.
Preferably, the RFID tags 20 are associated with the sample bag during
manufacture. The
RFID tags may be sewn into the sample bag as to be incorporated into the
sample bag.
As samples are prepared by known means the RFID tags 20 are associated with
respective samples by the apparatus 30 writing a unique identifier to the RFID
tags 20.
Preferably, as the apparatus 30 or 40 writes a unique identifier to the RFID
tags 20 any
associated additional data is also written to the RFID tags 20.
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The additional data associated with the unique identifier may include but is
not limed to
memory position, hole identification, rig identification, GPS coordinates,
date and time,
depth, and/or other sample type data.
The step of associating the RFID tags 20 and sample is repeated until such
time as the
drill hole reaches the required depth.
Once the drilling operation is completed all the samples generated by the
drilling cycle
are again scanned by the apparatus 30 or 40 and the data contained on the RFID
tags 20
captured as a means of verification against that generated as the samples were
created.
The data transfer means of the apparatus 30 or 40 then transmits the data
captured to an
appropriate means of data storage. It should be appreciated that this
transmission may be
directly to an appropriate means of data storage such as a database, or
alternatively it may
be transferred to a portable means of data storage prior to being transmitted
to a database.
Optionally, the method may further comprise the step of associating additional
data with
the data captured and stored in the database. Additional data that may be
associated with
the data stored in the database may comprise results from any form of testing
performed
on the samples, Quality Assurance or Quality Control data or any other data
that may be
determined to be useful with regard the sampling.
Additional data that can be linked to the sample such as the results of
analysis of the
sample or any other additional information may be combined with and stored
with the
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sample data in the means of data storage of the present invention.
Figure 5 depicts a calico mining sample bag 52 of the type that is typically
used for
storing mineral samples. The sample bag 52 is sewn from a single piece of
cloth and
includes a bottom 53, a pair of opposing sides 54, a pair of stitched side
seams 55 where
the sides 54 are sewn together, an open top 56, and a draw-string 57 for
closing the top
56.
Figure 6 depicts a flowchart of a sampling method 58 for diamond drill hole
samples.
In accordance with this preferred embodiment of the present invention the step
of
associating the samples with a respective sample occurs after the core
produced by the
diamond drill hole sampling process first undergoes the step of core
processing.
Figure 7 is a table 60 which contains data captured by the apparatus 30 or 40
when the
RFID tags 20 of the samples are read by apparatus 30 or 40 when it is
configured as a
RFID device reader. The data captured for each sample occupies its own row in
the table
60. Each row of data at least includes the hole ID of the drill hole from
which the sample
was taken, and the serial number of the sample.
By way of example, this would be the level of information that would be made
available
to a testing facility or other third party.
CA 02716698 2010-10-06
Figure 8 depicts a table 62 which contains data captured by the apparatus 30
or 40 when
the RFID tags 20 of the samples are read by apparatus 30 or 40 when it is
configured as a
RFID device reader and writer, with the correct password being entered.
By way of example, this would be the level of information that would be made
available
at the drilling rig or core yard. The data for each sample occupies its own
row in the table
62. Each row of data includes the memory position of the data for the sample,
the hole ID
of the drill hole from which the sample was taken, the rig ID of the drilling
rig which was
used to obtain the sample, the date and time on which the sample was taken,
the depth (in
metres) down the drill hole at which the sample was taken, the type of the
sample (i.e.
whether it is a normal sample, or a QAQC sample), and the serial number of the
sample
and any other information gathered at the drilling rig or core yard.
Figure 9 depicts a table 64 which contains the data collected for each sample
in
accordance with this method. Each sample is contained within a single row of
the table
64 as it would be stored on the storage means of the present invention.
By way of example, this would be the level of information that would be made
available
to a geologist or the database manager and represents all of the data captured
regarding
that sample.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, table 64
combines
the data contained in table 60 with the testing results relating to each
sample. In this
preferred embodiment of the present invention the testing results is assay
data relating to
a drilling operation. The assay data for each sample comprises the gold,
arsenic, copper,
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aluminum, silica, phosphorus and iron content of each sample in parts per
million (ppm).
It will be appreciated that the particular elements included in the testing
results will vary
from case to case, depending upon which particular elements are of interest.
In use, the method of the present invention will be described wherein the
samples are
generated by hole drilling, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present
invention, the RFID tags 20 are incorporated into the sample bags 52 during
construction.
The drill rig receives an apparatus 50 and the empty sample bags 52 containing
the RFID
tags 20.
Each time the drill rig begins drilling a new hole, an operator at the drill
rig pushes the
NEW HOLE button on the keypad 43 of the apparatus 40 and enters the hole
identification (hole ID) for the hole and the rig identification (rig ID) for
the drill rig into
the apparatus 40 using the numeric keypad 45, and presses the OK button of the
apparatus 40 so that it stores the entered information into memory.
If the hole is a re-drill of an existing hole the operator may also enter the
start depth of the
is new drilling cycle.
The drill rig personnel are provided with instructions on how often to insert
the QAQC
samples for standard, blank and duplicate material into a sequence of samples
that are
obtained from each hole that is drilled during the campaign.
Each new sample has a unique identifier written as the RFID tags 20 passes the
apparatus
50 during the drilling process. Preferably, as the unique identifier is
written to the RFID
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tags 20 additional information to be associated with the sample is written to
the RFID
tags 20. After writing the unique identifier to each RFID tags 20 the depth
counter of the
apparatus 50 is increased.
At the intervals that they have been instructed to, the operator will insert a
QAQC sample
into the sequence of samples being generated. When inserting the QAQC sample,
the
operator presses one of the QAQC buttons on the keypad 43 ofthe apparatus 40
bring the
RFID tags 20 into proximity of the apparatus 40. Pressing one of the QAQC
buttons and
writing sample data to the RFID tags 20 will not cause the depth count on the
apparatus
40 to increase after the scanning of a QAQC sample.
to Preferably, additional QAQC data is written to the RFID tags 20 including
the sample
type.
Once drilling is completed, data collected on the apparatus 40 comprising the
sample and
hole data is downloaded via the data transfer (not shown) means to a storage
device such
as a USB storage device or a computer.
The data collected from the apparatus is then transmitted by appropriate means
into the
data storage means of the present invention.
Preferably, the samples generated by the sampling process are then collected
to be sent
for testing.
Preferably, the apparatus 30 is used to read the sample identification data on
the RFID
tags 20 as they are collect to be sent to the testing facility. The data
collected by the
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apparatus 30 is then able to be used in logistical control of the samples
generated or as a
further verification step to ensure integrity of the data generated by the
method of the
present invention.
At the testing facility, the apparatus 30 is used to read the RFID tags 20.
Preferably, the
apparatus 30 is configured to be a RFID device reader only. As such the
apparatus 30 is
unable to transmit the required password to the RFID tags 20 and therefore
unable to read
the additional data that is stored on the RFID tags 20.
Preferably, the apparatus 30 is configured to be in communication with a
personal
computer (not shown) via the data transmission means (not shown).
As each sample's associated RFID tags 20 are read by the apparatus 30 the
information
read by the apparatus is stored in an electronic file on the attached personal
computer.
Preferably, the personal computer is configured such that any data read by the
apparatus
30 is stored in the electronic file generated on the personal computer. This
will provide
an additional means of ensuring that the apparatus 30 provided to the testing
facility has
not been tampered with to allow the reading of additional data associated with
each
sample.
Preferably, the electronic file is generated by data being retrieved directly
into a propriety
software package.
The testing facility processes the samples contained in the bags 52 by known
means and
enters the test results into the electronic file.
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The testing results for each sample, along with the sample ID read from the
RFID tags 20
for the sample by the apparatus 30 is stored in the electronic file. Upon
completion of
testing the testing facility then sends the electronic file to the combining
means of the
present invention.
Upon receiving the electronic file containing the testing results for each
sample the
combining means of the present invention combines the information contained in
the
electronic file from the testing facility to the data already held in the data
storage means.
The data set generated by the combining means of the present invention is then
stores in
the storage means of the present invention. The storage means of the present
invention
contains a record for each sample comprising a unique identifier and the test
results for
each sample.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, additional
data
associated with each sample allows identification of QAQC samples.
The information contained in the data storage means is sufficient to allow
someone
skilled in the art to carry out a QAQC check of each record in the database
and make a
determination of the quality of the test results made available from the
testing facility.
Due to the fact that the sample bags are not numbered, and because the testing
facility is
only able to read the hole ID and serial number of each sample from the RFID
tags 20
associated with the sample, it is difficult, if not impossible, for the
testing facility to
determine from the data that they are able to read from the RFID tags 20
whether the
sample is a genuine sample, or whether it is a QAQC sample.
CA 02716698 2010-10-06
Consequently, it is more difficult for the Testing Facility to manipulate the
testing result
data to take account of any errors or inaccuracies in that data. As a result,
there can be
greater confidence in the assay results provided by the tab.
The system and methods as described above are able to increase the efficiency
of drill
hole sample data management in mining and mineral exploration operations. This
is
achieved by:
reducing the amount of data that needs to be manually entered;
reducing the amount of data that needs to be manually collected;
reducing the data collection time so as to thereby reduce the number of errors
and free-up
resources; and
Reducing the likelihood that QAQC samples can be identified by the testing
facility.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the RFID tags 20 may
have the
sample number attached to the sample bag 52. Although the samples generated
will be in
consecutive order unlike previous methods the insertion of the QAQC samples
occurs at
the drill rig as the samples are being generated. Therefore the QAQC samples
will not be
identifiable by simply being out of sequence.
In the embodiment described, the invention is used in mineral sampling, and so
the
testing comprises an assay procedure. In alternative embodiments of the
invention, the
testing is appropriate to the material being sampled, as is the data or
information
collected, For example, in the case of fish sampling, the testing may comprise
a
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biological analysis of the samples, and the data recorded is relevant thereto,
such as
location and time of catch.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations and
modifications to the
invention described herein will be apparent without departing from the spirit
and scope
thereof. The variations and modifications as would be apparent to persons
skilled in the
art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as
herein set
forth.
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