| Mineral Certified Reference Material: The Best Tool to Achieve Reliable Analytical Data Maria Alice Goes1; 1CENTER FOR MINERAL TECHNOLOGY - CETEM, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; PAPER: 111/Mining/Regular (Oral) SCHEDULED: 16:45/Sat. 26 Oct. 2019/Zeus (55/Mezz. F) ABSTRACT: Nearly every decision-making process in mineral research or the mineral industry depends on analytical data. It is not sufficient, however, to merely data. The data must be traceable and comparable. Precise results are not good enough to warrant reliable data. The lack of accuracy can cause seriously biased results and erroneous decisions. Certified reference materials (CRMs) play an important role in assuring analytical results of high quality. A CRM is a material that is sufficiently stable and homogeneous with respect to one or more specified properties which establish the CRM to be fit for its intended use in a measurement process. This is characterized by a metrologically valid procedure, accompanied by a certificate that provides the value of the specified property, its associated uncertainty, and a statement of metrological traceability [1]. Its uses may include the calibration of a measurement system, assessment of a measurement procedure, assigning values to other materials, and quality control [2]. CRMs are also used in interlaboratory comparisons for method validation and for assessing laboratory proficiency. The demonstration of the scientific and technical competence of reference material producers (RMPs) is a basic requirement for ensuring the quality of CRMs. It is not only necessary for RMPs to provide information about their materials in the form of CRM documents, but also to demonstrate their competence in producing CRMs of appropriate quality [3]. The Center for Mineral Technology (CETEM), a R&D Institute under the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications, has been accredited as an ore and mineral certified reference material producer in accordance with ISO 17034 since June 2011. The production concerns all necessary activities leading to a reference material supplied to customers, including production planning, production control, material handling and storage, material processing, assessment of homogeneity and stability, characterization, assignment of property values and their uncertainties, issue of certificates and post-distribution service. The Certified Reference Material Program (PMRC) was established to coordinate all management and technical aspects of the production of certified reference materials at CETEM. It has a fully equipped laboratory for handling large amounts of material, preventing contamination among samples, as well as from outside sources, and a qualified technical team that is committed to ensuring the quality of the reference materials produced. Currently, the majority of CETEM’s certified reference materials are bauxite ores originating from various regions in Brazil. There is a continuing effort for the development of other natural matrix reference materials, driven by the needs of analytical laboratories associated with mining, metallurgy and the environment. CETEM also provides custom-made CRMs from client-supplied materials in order to meet a specific or special application need. This paper describes the production of CETEM’s certified reference materials. References: [1] ISO Guide 30:2015, Reference materials -- Selected terms and definitions. [2] SO Guide 33: 2015, Reference materials -- Good practice in using reference materials [3] ISO 17034:2016, General requirements for the competence of reference material producers. |
