Recommended Bulk Density and Moisture Content Determination Protocol For

Coal, Laterite, Bauxite and Other Clay-Predominant Samples

Armando Simn
AMEC
1.0 Introduction
Preparation of a systematic bulk density database is essential in any mineral project,
particularly when the explored resource is associated with a complex weathering
profile. Sufficient bulk density data for the various rock types present in the deposit
should be collected, and the relationship between bulk density and the sample position,
including depth, should be properly established.
2.0 Commonly used bulk density determination methods in laterite deposits
Different bulk density determination methods have been used in laterite deposits
elsewhere, some of them just variations of the buoyancy method, based on the
Archimedes principle. The most commonly used density determination methods are
summarized herein (Lipton, 2001):
a) Water displacement method on drill core. Bulk density is measured by the water
displacement method in selected 10 cm to 30 cm trimmed sections of intact and
coherent core. Core selected for measurement of bulk density by this method is
wrapped in plastic film and weighed in air and in water, then dried and weighed in air to
calculate the bulk density.
b) Volume calculation method on drill core (calliper). Bulk density is calculated for all
assayed core samples, by dividing the total dry weight of the core samples by the
calculated volume of the recovered core.
c) Water displacement method with volume determination. Bulk density is determined
from the volume of water displaced with a volume determination, adjusted for recovery
within the interval.
d) Volume calculation method on test pits (in situ density tests). Bulk density is
calculated by dividing the weight of the material excavated from a 30 cm-side cube at
the bottom of a test pit by the volume of water required to fill the cube lined with a thin,
waterproof plastic sack.
e) Sand replacement method. Similar to the previous method, but using sand instead
of water to fill the cube.
f) Caldweld drilling. Bulk density is calculated by drilling a large-diameter-hole
(typically around 900mm (3ft)), where cutting and ripping teeth are mounted at the base
of a bucket-like container which collects the cuttings as the hole advances. For each
interval, the weight of cuttings is measured and the hole diameter is accurately known.
g) Down-the-hole gamma-gamma density logging. Commonly used in oil exploration,
this is a nuclear technique based in the measurement of the intensity of the secondary
gamma radiation generated as a result of the emission of gamma radiation by a

radioactive source. This method requires smooth drill-hole sidewalls, for which its use
in the commonly rough profile of weathered zones is problematic.
3.0 Recommended Density Determination Methods for Coal, Laterite, Bauxite and
other Clay-Predominant Samples
AMEC recommends that bulk density be primarily determined in laterite deposits by
three methods: water displacement on drill core, volume calculation on drill core
(calliper) and volume calculation on test pits (in situ determinations). The first two
methods should use the same samples.
3.1 Safety Considerations
Before starting the bulk density determination procedure, all personnel involved should
be provided with the required safety implements, so that the test is conducted in a safe
and secure manner. The supervisor and the workers should make sure that the safety
equipment is clean and in good working condition.
3.2 Water Displacement on Drill Core
Core Sampling:
Every 10 m in average, well trimmed, 15 cm to 20 cm long, cylindrical pieces of
compact HQ core should be taken for bulk density measurement as soon as extracted
from the hole.
The density samples should be at least three-fold, tightly wrapped with thin
plastic foil and bagged in plastic bags.
Care should be taken for not leaving air bubbles between the plastic foil and the
core surface.
Handling and transportation of density samples should be very careful, to avoid
core destruction or deformation.
The density samples should be representative of all major rock and/or facies
types present in the deposit.
The same sample will be used for the volume calculation on drill core method.
Equipment and supplies:
A 3 kg to 4 kg ( 0.01 g) scale, equipped with an under hook weighing accessory
for density determination, or adapted for weighing density samples
A thin wire cradle located below the scale
A plastic container nearly full of water, located below the scale
A drying oven (gas or electric), with capacity for at least 30 samples and
automatic temperature control
Thin plastic foil (as used for conserving food).
Procedure:
-

The scale should be zero-ed.

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The wet sample, well wrapped on thin plastic foil, should be weighed on air. The
result of this measurement, the Wet Coated Weight on Air, will be recorded as E (in
grams).
The wet sample, well wrapped on thin plastic foil, should be then placed into the
cradle, and immersed into the water, submerging the sample completely. The Wet
Coated Weight under Water will be recorded as F (in grams).
The wrapped core will then be unwrapped. The plastic foil should be cleaned of
all remaining material, and this material should be placed together with the core, and
weighed on air. The Wet Uncoated Weight on Air should be recorded as G (in grams).
The core should be then cut in pieces and dried in the oven at 105 C for enough time
to ensure that drying has been completed.
Tests should be conducted to determine the complete drying time, by repeatedly
weighing the sample every 30 minutes, until constant weigh is obtained (when relative
weight differences observed between successive measurements do not exceed 0.5%).
The dry sample should then be weighed and the Dry Uncoated Weight on Air will
be recorded as A (in grams).
Finally, the density sample will be returned to the core box in the same original
position.
The bulk density Db should be calculated as:

Db g cm 3

A
E F
DW

E G
Df

where Dw is the water density at the given temperature (assumed for practical reasons
as 1.00 g/cm3) and Df is the plastic foil density (approximately 0.90 g/cm3).
Alternatively, if the foil is weighted in advance, the weight H of the foil may replace the
term E-G in the formula.
As recommended by ASTM (1999), the moisture content M should be calculated as:
M [%] = (G A) / A
3.3 Volume Calculation on Drill Core (Calliper)
This method uses the same sample that is used for the density determination with the
water displacement method on drill core. The calliper method consists of the estimation
of the density by reporting the dry weight to the sample volume, which is usually
determined through repeated direct measurements of the sample diameter and length.
However, considering that the lateritic material is commonly deformed due to its high
plasticity, the internal core bit diameter, directly measured with a calliper, will be used
instead of the measured core diameter. For HQ core, the nominal internal core bit
diameter is 6.35 cm, but direct measurements in core bits used at the project should be
conducted.
Equipment and supplies:

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A measuring tape with millimetres divisions

A calliper.

Procedure:
-

After taking the sample as described above for the previous method (Section
3.2), the core length (L) should be measured (in centimetres) to the nearest
millimetre.
The internal core bit diameter (d) should be measured in centimetres (with 0.01
cm precision) with a calliper at the moment when the core bit is first used and at
the moment when it is discarded, to assess the possible wear during usage and
make the necessary corrections. To obtain the d value, at least two
measurements should be conducted, on perpendicular sections, and
subsequently averaged.

The bulk density D should be calculated as:

D [g/cm3] = C / 0.25 d2L
As recommended by ASTM (1999), the moisture content M should be calculated as:
M [%] = (A C) / C
3.4 Volume Calculation on Test Pits (in situ determinations)
These tests should be conducted on representative parts of the deposit, and the results
should be compared with the results of the previously described two methods. Two
alternatives may be used for in situ determinations: by water replacement and by sand
replacement.
Water Replacement
Equipment and supplies:
-

A 20 kg ( 0.01 kg) scale

A drying oven (gas or electric), with automatic temperature control
Large, thin plastic bags
Airtight sample bags
Water stored in 10 L containers.

Procedure:
-

The surface where the sample will be taken should be levelled and cleaned.
A roughly 30 cm diameter and 30 cm deep hole should be dug, and all extracted
material should be carefully collected and seal-bagged.
The hole should be lined with a thin plastic bag, larger than the cube, and water
should be carefully poured until the water level reaches the level of the surface.

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The weight of the water necessary to fill the hole should be measured by
weighing the water container(s) before and after pouring the water into the hole,
and recording the (total) difference(s) as W (in grams).
The wet extracted material should be weighed, and the wet weigh should be
recorded as A (in grams).
The entire sample should be placed into the drying oven and dried at 105C for
enough time to ensure that drying has been completed.
Tests should be conducted to determine the complete drying time, by repeatedly
weighing a couple of compact fragments every 30 minutes, until constant weigh
is obtained (until weigh decreases less than 0.5% between successive
measurements).
The dry sample should be weighed, and the dry weight should be recorded as C
(in grams).

The bulk density D should be then calculated as:

D [g/cm3] = C*dw / W
where dw is the water density at the given temperature (which is assumed for practical
reasons as 1.00 g/cm3).
As recommended by ASTM (1999), the moisture content M should be calculated as:
M [%] = (A C) / C
Sand Replacement

In principle, this method is similar to the previous one, but instead of water, sand of
uniform granulometry is poured into the hole.
Equipment and supplies:

A 20 kg ( 0.01 kg) scale

A drying oven (gas or electric), with automatic temperature control
Airtight sample bags
Sand of uniform granulometry with known density Ds.
A cylinder with enough sand, provided with a valve to allow a gradual release of
the sand (Figures 3 and 4).

Procedure:

The surface where the sample will be taken should be levelled and cleaned.
A roughly 30 cm diameter and 30 cm deep hole should be dug, and all extracted
material should be carefully collected and seal-bagged.
The cylinder full of sand should be weighed, and the resulting initial weight will be
recorded as A (in grams).
The cylinder should be placed over the hole, and sand should be carefully
poured until the sand level reaches the level of the surface.

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The cylinder should be weighed again, and the resulting final weight will be
recorded as B (in grams).
The entire sample should be placed into the drying oven and dried at 105 C 5
C for enough time to ensure that drying has been completed.
Tests should be conducted to determine the complete drying time, by repeatedly
weighing the sample every 30 minutes, until constant weigh is obtained (until
weigh decreases less than 0.5% between successive measurements).
The dry sample should be weighed, and the dry weight should be recorded as C
(in grams).
The bulk density Db should be calculated as follows:

Db g cm3

C
( A B) / Ds

3.5 Additional Considerations

Whatever the method used, when conducting bulk density determinations the lithologic
and/or facies type should be carefully registered.
4.0 References
ASTM, 1999. Standard Test for Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content
of Soil and Rock by Mass. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
Designation D 2216 98.
Lipton, I. T., 2001. Measurement of Bulk Density for Resource Estimation. In: Mineral
Resource and Ore Reserve Estimation-The AusIMM Guide to Good Practice (Ed.
A. C. Edwards), pp. 57-66. The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy,
Melbourne.

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