Looking for a laboratory in the Philippines for rock/drill core sample testing

Hi everyone! I’m currently looking for a laboratory in the Philippines that can perform the following tests on rock/drill core samples:

1. Wet weight / Wet Bulk Density (Wet-BD)
   
2. Moisture content
   
3. Dry weight / Dry Bulk Density (Dry-BD)
   
4. Dry Granule Density / Specific Gravity (SG)
   
5. Gold grade / Au assay

I’ve already emailed quite a number of laboratories, but unfortunately, some don’t perform these tests, while others don’t offer them for rock/drill core samples.

If you know of any laboratory in the Philippines that can perform these tests, I would really appreciate your recommendations. If you have personally worked with a lab for similar rock/drill core analyses, please feel free to share the laboratory name and contact details.

Thank you so much! Any leads would be greatly appreciated. 🙏

This video shows a group of miners collecting the remaining gem-bearing gravel, locally called illam, from the floor of a traditional gem-mining tunnel in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka.

The process begins by digging a vertical shaft through the soil until the alluvial deposit is reached. Miners then excavate horizontally to follow the gem-bearing layer.

Although the illam layer may be relatively thin, tunnels are generally made around 5–6 feet high to provide enough room for workers to move.

Traditional tunnel construction involves several steps:

* The upper soil is removed gradually.

* Kekilla and areca palm strips are used to reinforce exposed soil surfaces. ( (Kekilla is the local name for a type of fern)

* Horizontal rubber wood beams are installed and supported by vertical wooden posts.

* The tunnel is kept level to help maintain structural stability.

In this particular video, most of the illam has already been extracted, and the workers are recovering the material remaining along the bottom of the tunnel.

Traditional Ceylon gem mining relies on practical knowledge passed down through generations. The wooden support system, the way miners follow the deposit, and the teamwork involved are all important parts of this process.

One important note: These traditional supports are intended to help control soil movement, but underground tunnels can still collapse. Proper ground assessment and safety precautions are essential.

https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/22/china/four-dead-china-coal-mine-latam-intl?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=missions&utm_source=reddit

Hi everyone,

I've been working with OEM and aftermarket mining equipment parts for a number of years and have learned quite a bit about spare parts, maintenance planning, lead times, and equipment support.

I noticed there are often discussions here about equipment reliability, downtime, sourcing challenges, and maintenance issues, so I thought I'd join the community and contribute where I can.

If anyone has questions related to drifters, breakers, underground mining equipment, spare parts availability, or maintenance practices, I'll be happy to share what I've learned and hopefully help support your operations.

I'm also interested in hearing about the challenges you're currently facing in your mines and workshops.

Looking forward to learning from everyone here as well.

I need a surpac for our feasibility study project (academic purposes only) I have till about next week left to comply with my subject, can ya'll help me out here. Thanks

Edit: I now have surpac. Hiw do I fix query error in displaying drillholes from data bases?

I am from India doing B.Tech in Mining 3rd year looking for internship. Please give me some suggestions to get industry lavel exposer

Mining Properties & Rights Available – Philippines

PTPA. Family owned corporation with mining properties and mining rights available in Paracale, Masbate, and other areas in the Philippines. With government papers/licenses and operational documentation.

Sale, JV, or investor participation possible.
Authorized representative here. PM if interested.

Been in a similar niche of mining for a few years would love to connect to more people to possibly support eachother comments will be appreciated.

This video shows workers washing gem-bearing gravel at my small gem mine in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. This traditional method has been used for generations. Sometimes we find sapphires, chrysoberyl, garnet and other stones in this layer.

Just sharing the process for educational purposes. Feel free to ask questions.

What do usually mining companies offer for the FIFO schedule?

Guy from south east asia here, planning to consider coal mining career in PPIC role FIFO 8 weeks on and 2 weeks off. Offered around $1000 per month (considered a lot in my country 😅), just curious how it goes in other countries.

Inside a traditional Ceylon gem mine, it’s not just one tunnel going down.

Once miners reach the gem-bearing layer, multiple tunnels are carefully opened in different directions — like branches of a tree underground. Each branch follows the natural gravel layer where sapphires and other gemstones may be hidden.

These tunnels are dug completely by hand and supported with timber frames for safety.

Miners move slowly, checking every section of earth, because one small pocket can contain stones formed millions of years ago.

Every branch tells a different story…

and any turn could reveal a gemstone.

🇱🇰 Traditional Sri Lankan gem mining

Nature, patience, and experience working together underground.

Final step after gem mining in Sri Lanka: gemstone sorting. Everyone feels excited when we search through the gravel and start finding gemstones. This time we found several small stones, including a blue sapphire that I plan to cut. In the next video, I’ll show what happens during the cutting process!

Came across this regarding the Freeport mudrush fatalities a few months ago. I suppose good on them for releasing this, it's pretty informative. I'm no mud rush expert at all, but it seems like massive thing to miss entirely.

https://d2y36twrtb17ty.cloudfront.net/sessions/ec141f05-7810-49fa-9617-b399003c95de/9a94f410-311c-43b9-8731-b399003c95ec-d3ceece3-cef0-4e79-9906-b399004068dd.mp4

https://s22.q4cdn.com/529358580/files/doc_presentations/2025/FCX_3Q25_CC_update.pdf

What kind of filter is this?

Hello all,

I’m working on optimizing a small-scale (<10 TPH) gravity recovery setup and would appreciate technical input from experienced operators.

Current configuration:

• Throughput: <10 TPH

• Flow path: fixed grizzly → punch plate → sluice box

• Material: sand & gravel, minimal clay content

• Gold: predominantly fine gold (flour to small flakes)

Questions:

1.  Miner’s moss: open vs sealed bottom

• In fine-gold dominant systems, does sealing the moss bottom measurably improve retention, or does it risk dead zones and packing at lower throughputs?

2.  Grizzly design parameters

• Recommended bar spacing and inclination for sub-10 TPH feeds?

• Optimal vertical distance between grizzly and punch plate to reduce stratification loss and oversize interference?

3.  Riffle geometry & spacing

• Low-profile riffles vs expanded metal over moss for fine gold?

• Practical spacing/height ratios that balance recovery vs sluice velocity?

4.  Shaking table setup (future addition)

• Typical starting angles for fine gold concentration?

• Relative sensitivity of recovery to table pitch vs water flow rate?

5.  Water flow / pressure control

• Field indicators of excessive velocity causing fine gold losses?

• Best low-tech methods for dialing flow consistently?

This is a learning-stage, DIY system, focused on recovery efficiency rather than throughput. Any data, rules of thumb, or field-proven setups would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

I am soon to be a mining engineer.

I am wondering on what the job is mostly about, is it like what we really do in school or is it entirely different.

Whats the pay? Is it good when you first were hired??

Whats the job market? How long did you take to get a job??

Thanks!

I have 50 kgs of chromite and I am planning to extract chromium trioxide from the ore but first I need to turn the ore into fine powder. I don't have big equipment just things found in a regular shack, do you have any tips?

Been hustling for almost three years. Searched an Asian country from North to South for PGM ore, found what I believe is a large copper ore "vein".

On-site video.