Geochemical Laboratory LIMS

Geochemical data ages into resource models, and resource models get audited. A concentration reported today may be questioned years later during a NI 43-101 or ISO 17025 review — which sample, which instrument run, which reference material, whose approval. A geochemical laboratory therefore needs more than throughput: it needs every number to remain explainable long after the batch has left the building. That is the problem OnLIMS is built around.

Multi-element work without transcription

Analytical packages Test libraries define each package — elements, methods, detection limits, valid ranges — so registration assigns the right work in one step.
Instrument capture ICP-OES/MS, XRF, AAS and carbon/sulfur output arrives through serial (RS-232) or watched-folder interfaces (CSV/TXT/XML) — 150+ instruments integrated, results mapped to samples automatically.
Detection limits enforced Results are validated against method detection limits and ranges at entry; below-detection values are reported correctly instead of improvised in a spreadsheet.
Crosstab and export Element-by-sample crosstab views and exports to CSV, TXT, XLSX and XML feed geology databases and modeling packages cleanly.

Campaigns as batch jobs

An exploration campaign arrives as a large, finite set of drill-core samples that must move through preparation and analysis as a unit. OnLIMS batch jobs give each sample a unique ID at registration and carry the campaign through drying, crushing, splitting, pulverizing and analysis with preparation control — split weights and sieve tests recorded against the sample. Worksheet templates insert certified reference materials, blanks and duplicates in sequence, so QA/QC coverage is designed into the run rather than added afterwards.

QA/QC that will survive an audit

OnQC evaluates CRMs, blanks and duplicates in real time using Shewhart, X-Control, CUSUM and Thompson-Howarth control charts, tracks bias against certified values, and raises 2SD warnings and 3SD rejections that block sign-off until resolved. Duplicate precision is monitored with range and precision plots — the classic geochemical evidence set. Behind it all sits a field-level audit trail: old value, new value, user, timestamp, from reception to the published certificate.

Frequently asked questions

How does OnLIMS handle multi-element geochemical packages?

Test libraries define each analytical package with its elements, methods, detection limits and ranges. ICP-OES/MS, XRF and AAS output is captured through serial or file-based interfaces and validated against those limits at entry, with results below detection reported correctly rather than as typed-in approximations.

Can OnLIMS manage a drill-core campaign of thousands of samples?

Yes. Batch jobs model a fixed count of samples with a unique ID per drill-core sample, from registration and preparation through analysis and reporting. QA/QC standards, blanks and duplicates are inserted in sequence on the worksheet, and the whole campaign remains traceable sample by sample.

What QA/QC evidence does a geochemical laboratory get for audits?

OnQC evaluates certified reference materials, blanks and duplicates in real time using Shewhart, X-Control, CUSUM and Thompson-Howarth charts, records bias against certified values, and blocks sign-off on 3SD failures. Every result carries a field-level audit trail, which is the evidence base auditors ask for under ISO 17025 or NI 43-101 review.