How to Properly Sample from a Stockpile Without Power Equipment

What should a sampler do when sampling from a stockpile with no power equipment?

Choose one:

A. Use manual methods that ensure a representative sample is collected without bias

B. Use power equipment to speed up the sampling process

C. Take samples only from the top layer of the stockpile

Answer:

The sampler should use manual methods that ensure a representative sample is collected without bias, like taking increment samples from various parts of the stockpile and combining them.

Sampling Techniques: When sampling from a stockpile with no power equipment, the sampler should use a method that ensures a representative sample is collected without any selection bias. Sampling techniques in the absence of power equipment involve manual methods. One common approach is to use a shovel to take smaller amounts from various locations and layers of the stockpile. These increments are then combined to form a composite sample. It's crucial to ensure that all parts of the stockpile are equally represented. The sampler should be aware of the potential for segregation and take precautions to avoid it, such as not favoring material from the edges or bottom of the pile, which may be finer in particle size. Apologies for selecting the subject as Engineering, it is most relatable to the question, but it could also relate to Business or even Advanced Placement (AP) depending on the context, as sampling techniques can be a part of various industrial and business processes studied in those fields as well.