Additional quality control measures have been recently adopted for Cr and Fe including the blind insertion of a certified reference material SARM 8, purchased from Mintek in South Africa, and a change from INAA to fusion X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to analyse chromite samples. For fusion XRF assays the samples are melted with borate fluxes and quenched to a glass bead, which is then irradiated with X-rays. The secondary X-ray emissions are counted and used, with reference to several calibrants, to determine the whole rock composition including the analytes and all other major oxide components of the rock. The additional compositional data would be of interest to buyers of any potential ore from the Blackbird deposits. The results of these new assays are still pending.

no doubt that the delay in assays may be attributed to the above.