Analytical services provider African Mineral Standards (AMIS) – a subsidiary of JSE-listed industrial group Torre Industries – is a producer of mineral certified reference materials (CRMs) and will exhibit its core focus on analytical services related to mining and exploration at the Investing in African Mining Indaba 2018.

“We use the Mining Indaba [which will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from February 5 to 8] as an opportunity to continuously showcase our brand to the international market. It also serves as a great networking platform with existing and new customers. It continues to be one of the highlights on our exhibition calendar, as it also gives us an opportunity to gain more insight into the industry trends and developments,” says AMIS MD Raksha Naidoo.

Moreover, she adds that it has been a difficult few years in the mining industry as commodity prices have struggled to recover and exploration budgets were cut. AMIS is, however, cautiously optimistic for 2018 as mining production in the South African mining industry has increased and signs of recovery in other mining jurisdictions are being reported.

Naidoo notes that AMIS has spent a considerable amount of time locally and abroad with industry experts and the mood has been fairly positive about the industry. “Macro-economic challenges still exist globally, but I think the recovery of the industry is definitely starting.”

Analytical Offering

AMIS’s offering of CRMs can be used for analytical method validation, calibration of analytical equipment and in procedural quality control programmes in assay laboratories.

The products are specific and used in exploration and mining, as well as in the construction and agricultural industries, explains Naidoo.

“We try to stay ahead of the curve, planning and preparing proficiency testing schemes and products for what the industry requires, so that when there’s a need for a specific CRM, we are able to meet it.”

AMIS can customise CRMs as specified by the end-user, in addition to operating proficiency testing (PT) schemes. The PT schemes are set out according to International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) guidelines, which enables participating laboratories to acquire ISO 17025 accreditation.

AMIS has recently obtained the ISO 17043 accreditation, becoming a South African National Accreditation System Proficiency Scheme provider.

Naidoo notes that one of the aspects that sets AMIS’s PT scheme apart from that of other service providers is that it is free of charge and, as a result of the ISO 17043 accreditation, it is one of only a few accredited PT schemes for mineral analysis.

She adds that the free PT scheme is crucial for smaller laboratories, as “participation in a PT schemes will enable them to compare themselves with international counterparts”. Furthermore, laboratories can use AMIS’s PT schemes to either attain or ensure that they retain ISO accreditation.

“AMIS aims for a minimum of 50 PT schemes a year and sends general notifications to customers and participants to inform them of the upcoming projects.” Naidoo welcomes Indaba visitors to meet the AMIS team during the show at the company’s stand.