I suspect a straight $ capital investment would create a conflict of interest. Instead of investing capital in the lab they could enter into a contract to process $x million of assays with a guarenteed turnaround time. The lab could use the contract to get financing from a bank and there would be no conflict of interest. It would be a different form of investment.

I have worked for two companies that had their own on site Au/Ag labs that processed all the company's exploration assays to ensure fast turnaround in order to guide the projects in something close to real time If there were positive results they sent the split sample to an external lab to be assayed and reported and for their own QC.

As to assay costs it varies based on what you are sampling. Everything can't be tested by the same process in one assay and the sensitivity and range of detection varies by the method used. Au and Ag are $10 - $20/sample depending on how they are finished. Base metals are about the same for the first element plus $3-$5 for each base metal element tested in the sample at the same time. PGM is much higher (closer to hundred/sample?? --- I could look it up if you want an exact #).

As with all things costs come down on large contracts and in batch runs. Also once the lab has a good feel for your material they will optimize their proceedures to minimize your assay costs per sample and incease turnaround. A good lab will do a lot of work with you on the quality control side and on sampling strategies to maximize their value to you.

... Been There