RE: Assay Delays8 Jan 2026 09:24
Yes, fire assay backlogs for gold explorers in Queensland are affected by high demand from the broader mining industry which includes explorers for other minerals, as well as general issues like labor shortages.
The fire assay method is the industry standard for determining concentrations of not just gold, but also other valuable platinum group elements (PGEs) like platinum, palladium, iridium, osmium, and ruthenium.
Therefore, the overall high volume of exploration and mining activities across various commodities, including base metals and critical minerals (many of which are found in Queensland), contributes to the backlog in assay laboratories.
Key factors contributing to assay backlogs include:
High overall exploration activity: Surges in exploration across all minerals, driven by global demand and prices, put immense pressure on lab capacity.
Labor shortages: Post-COVID labour shortages have significantly impacted the ability of labs to process samples quickly.
Time-consuming process: The traditional fire assay method is a complex and lengthy process involving high heat and hazardous chemicals, making it difficult to ramp up capacity quickly.
Supply chain issues: Tangled supply chains for necessary lab equipment and chemicals can also cause delays.
The high volume of samples from all types of mining operations means that the backlog is a shared challenge across the entire mining industry, not exclusive to gold miners. Some labs are turning to newer technologies like PhotonAssay to help alleviate these delays.
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