The Minerals Commission Laboratory has exceeded its mineral sample testing target for the financial year ending June 30, 2024/2025 by testing a total of 7684 samples against the target of 6,800.
This is an increase that indicates the laboratory’s great efficiency in providing services to miners and mineral traders.
Speaking at the Eighth National Mineral Technology Exhibition in Geita Region, a Chemist from the laboratory, Mr. David Lyandala said the laboratory continues to provide professional mineral testing services to determine the quality and quantity contained.
These services include testing for gold, manganese, carbon, gold-bearing liquids, clay and rock deposits using (Fire Assay), as well as testing for metals such as copper, iron, nickel, manganese, galena and zinc using modern X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) machines.
The laboratory measures graphite, soil and rock moisture and loss in ignition.
Mr. Lyandala said modern equipment such as XRF Machine, Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS), CNHS Analyzer and furnaces have increased the efficiency of the service, while educating stakeholders on the importance of testing samples before making business decisions.
A small-scale miner from Geita, Mr. John Magesa, said the services have been a great help to small-scale miners.
“In the past, we used to sell minerals without knowing their quality, which made us lose value. Now we get certainty and can do profitable business,” he said.
The Minerals Commission Laboratory is located at TIRDO Complex, Kimweri Avenue, Msasani, Dar es Salaam, and provides services to miners and mineral traders across the country.
