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Conference Programme

Sunday

Programme is subject to change

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Download speaker abstracts here

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Sunday, 12 March

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17:30 - 19:30  Welcome Drinks Reception, Hilton London Tower Bridge

Monday

Day One - Monday, 13 March 

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09:00 - 10:15 Session 1: Introduction, Keynote Speech, and the Work of LBMA 

Moderator: Neil Harby, Chief Technical Officer, LBMA

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Chief Executive’s Welcome and Remarks

Ruth Crowell, Chief Executive, LBMA

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The LBMA Good Delivery System – Update

Varsha Peiris, Head of Good Delivery, LBMA

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Keynote Speech: A Lifecycle Approach to Safety in Refineries - From Design to Continuous Improvement

Leo Simpson, Metalor USA

10:15 - 10:45 Coffee Break

10:45 - 12:20 Session 2: Safety   

Moderator: Michael W. Hinds, Ph.D., MHinds Analytical Consulting Inc.

 

Evaluation of Various Hazards Associated with Refining of Gold

Ankur Goyal, MMTC PAMP 

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Elements of a Successful Safety and Health Program in Gold and Silver Refining

Stewart Hogan, Asahi Refining Inc.

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Environment, Health and Safety Highlights and Challenges in PGM Refining

Stephen James, Johnson Matthey

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Risk Assessment and Prevention of Major Accidents

Alessandro Ruffoni, Argor-Heraeus SA

12:20 - 13:20 Lunch Break

13:20 - 14:55 Session 3: Refining

Moderator: Michael B. Mooiman, Franklin University and Argo Associates

 

Precious Metal Reclamation (Assaying and Refining) 

Chris Walne, Pressman Mastermelt

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Replacing Melting Processes with Mechanical Operations for Producing Silver Bars: A Lower Energy and Safer Alternative 

Enrico Cappellini and Giovanni Faoro, IKOI S.p.A
Simone Frigerio and Stefano Ghiringhelli, Argor-Heraeus

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Monitoring Percentage Sampling Variance for Improvement Purposes

Elton Cupido, Rand Refinery PTY Ltd

 

ESG in a Precious Metal Refinery: Challenges and Examples

Giovanni Calabria, MKS PAMP SA

14:55 - 15:25 Coffee Break

15:25 - 17:00 Session 4: Assaying 1   

Moderator: Barbara Badiello, MKS PAMP SA

 

Sampling Precious Metals in the Liquid and Solid States 

Michael B. Mooiman, Franklin University and Argo Associates

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Ultra-Fast Inclusion Analysis with the ARL iSpark Optical Emission Spectrometer: A New Tool for Quality Control of Precious Metals 

Jean-Marc Böhlen, Thermo Fisher Scientific

 

Evolution of Data Analytics and Application to the Assay Laboratory

Madeleine Theron, Rand Refinery PTY Ltd

 

Geoforensic Passport: Applications

Barbara Beck, University of Lausanne

Patrice Kiener, InModelia

17:00  Close Of Day One

18:30 Conference Dinner at Skylon Restaurant 

Tuesday

Day Two - Tuesday, 14 March 

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09:00 - 09:45 Session 5: Featured Paper Presentation

Moderator: Hitoshi Kosai, Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K.

 

Method Validation

Jonathan J. Jodry, Metalor Industries SA & Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K.

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09:45 - 11:00 Session 6: Vault Issues

Moderator: Hannah Coakley, Precious Metals Coordinator, LBMA

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Gold Bar Security Features

Neil Harby, Chief Technical Officer, LBMA

 

Vault Training in the London Market

Tony Evanson, GDL Consultant, LBMA

 

Review of Weighing Technology for Gold 400 tr.oz. Bars

Michael W. Hinds, Ph.D., MHinds Analytical Consulting Inc.

11:00 - 11:30  Coffee Break 

12:45 - 13:45  Lunch Break 

11:30 – 12:45 Session 7: Assaying 2

Moderator: Daniela Manara, Metalor Technologies

 

The Effect of Vortex Mixing on High Grade Silver Analysis  
Alessia Sironi, Luca Maerna, and Pedro Pianezzi, Valcambi SA

 

Improving the Sensitivity, Precision and Accuracy of ICP-OES Analyses to Fulfil Standardisation Regulations 
Dirk Wuestkamp, Spectro Analytical Instruments

 

Precise Quantification of Rh by Standard Bracketing Measurement in ICP-OES
Masakatsu Amano, Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K.

13:45 - 15:05 Session 8: Assaying 3 

Moderator: Madeleine Theron, Rand Refinery (Pty) Ltd

 

Automation in Sampling and Analysis at Umicore Precious Metals Refining 
Dr. Maarten Moens, Umicore PMR

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Introduction of a High-Speed Multispot-Laser Ablation-ICP-MS
Yasuo Kuroki, Thermo Fisher Scientific. K.K.

 

Application of LA-ICP-MS to the Analysis of Trace Elements in Precious Metals 
Takuya Obi, Yutaka Ohtani, and Hiroshi Sawa
i, Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K.

15:05 - 15:40  Coffee Break

15:40 - 16:55 Session 9: Assaying 4  

Moderator: Alessandro Ruffoni, Argor-Heraeus SA

 

Potentiometric Titration According to ISO 11427

Stefan Zorn, Agos

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Use and Handling of Uncertainties in Determining Metal Purity by Difference

Michael W. Hinds, Ph.D., MHinds Analytical Consulting Inc.

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Effects of Iridium on the Gold Assay by the Cupellation Method
Farahnaz Rejali, Regional Research Group of Isfahan, Standard Research Institute

16:55 - 17:25 Session 10: Summary and Q&A

Moderator: Neil Harby, Chief Technical Officer, LBMA

 

Panel

Alessandro Ruffoni, Argor-Heraeus SA

Barbara Badiello, PAMP SA

Daniela Manara, Metalor Technologies

Hitoshi Kosai, Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyu K.K.

Madeleine Theron, Rand Refinery (Pty) Ltd

17:25  Close Of Conference
 
17:30 Informal gathering at Mud Lark Pub

Wednesday

Wednesday, 15 March 

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Optional Add-ons

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08:30 - 15:00 Bureau Veritas Commodities Tour

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09:00 - 12:00 Safety Workshop for Refineries and Laboratories 

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Introduction and Observations on Safety Practices in the Industry

Michael W. Hinds, Ph.D., MHinds Analytical Consulting Inc.

Neil Harby, LBMA

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Safety in the Design of Our New Laboratory Facility

Michael Koch, Perth Mint Refinery

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Managing the Risk of PGM Fires

Stephen James, Johnson Matthey

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Hiding In Plain Sight...

Leo Simpson, Metalor USA

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Proactive Health & Safety; Engaging Your Workforce

Rob Sargent and Charles Daoust, Royal Canadian Mint

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Safety Culture Transformation

Terance Nkosi, Rand Refinery

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Concluding Remarks and General Discussion

Michael W. Hinds, Ph.D., MHinds Analytical Consulting Inc.

Neil Harby, LBMA

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Refreshment Break

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