Evaluation of Duplicate Samples: The Hyperbolic Method

Dr. Armando Simón, R.P.Geo.

Principal Geologist
AMEC International (Chile) S.A.

The evaluation procedure of the duplicate samples1 involves the preparation of Max-
Min plots2, where the maximum and minimum values of the sample pairs are plotted in
the y and x axis, respectively. This way, all the points are plotted above the x=y line.

Precision is evaluated through the Relative Error (RE), also know as Absolute Value of
the Relative Difference (AVRD). The RE is calculated as the absolute value of the
difference between the original and the duplicate values, divided by the average of the
two values:

RE = 2*|oi - di|/(oi + di) (1)

where oi is the original value and di is the duplicate value of the duplicate pair.
Precision is treated as a qualitative parameter, inversely proportional to RE, which is a
quantitative parameter: the higher the RE, the lower the precision, and vice versa.

Linear equations (y=mx; y=mx+b) are often used for evaluating the precision of
duplicate data, but the typical decrease of precision near the detection limits generally
leads to conciliatory non-conventional solutions when dealing with such low values. To
prevent this problem, the hyperbolic method has been developed as an alternative
solution.

With this method, each duplicate pair oi and di, is evaluated against the hyperbolic
quadratic equation:

y2=m2x2+b2 (2)

for x, y≥0, where y is max [oi, di], x is min [oi, di], m is the slope of the asymptote and b
the value of the intercept. The hyperbole so defined is considered as the failure line in
the Max-Min plot (Figure 1). Whereas near the detection limits the hyperbolic line
opens to allow for lower precision pairs, along the rest of the interval it tends
asymptotically to a line with slope m that crosses the coordinate origin (0,0).

1
Duplicate samples: generic term for twin samples, field duplicates, coarse duplicates and pulp
duplicates.
2
The Max-Min plots were developed by Scott Long (AMEC).
The value of m is calculated from the RE equation (1) and the hyperbolic equation (2),
considering that at the asymptote line di = m*oi and depends on the limiting RE
required for the particular type of duplicate. The m values so calculated are as follows:
1.35 for twin samples (corresponding to 30% RE), 1.22 for coarse duplicates
(corresponding to 20% RE) and 1.11 for pulp duplicates (corresponding to 10% RE).

The value of b is conditionally established, depending on the type of material, as a

certain multiple factor of the detection limit (10 to 20 times for twin samples, 6 to 10
times for coarse duplicates, and 3 to 5 times for pulp duplicates).

Sample pairs with RE exceeding the limiting value according to the equation (2), which
plot above the failure line, are considered failures, and are flagged for review.

Lima, September 30, 2004

Figure 1: Failure Line Alternatives

3.0

2.7
Failure line
2.4 alternatives

2.1
x=y line
1.8

Case 1
Max Value

1.5 Case 2
Case 3
45 deg
1.2 Case 1: y2=m2x2+b2
Case 2: y=mx
Case 3: y=mx+b
0.9

0.6

0.3

0.0
0.0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 2.1 2.4 2.7 3.0
Min Value

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