Sample

Technically a Sample is a set of random, independent values taken from a population under investigation and used to make predictions about the population.

In practice the sample (the set of data being used) may or may not represent the population being investigated. Before sample statistics can be extrapolated (generalised) with any degree of confidence to make predictions about a population it is important to ensure that the sample adequately represents the population.

In addition, it is important to be aware that the data gathered may represent data from several different populations. For example in a regional survey it may be adequate to take all soil geochemistry samples and to average the results to obtain a regional average. Such an approach will however provide little information on the average of a mineralised zone. When looking at mineralised zones it is necessary to segregate the data for that zone only, if predictions are to be made about the population of enriched grades.

It is also important to realize that in mineralised zones the data collected may still represent data from several different populations and that the populations may be intimately mixed. This happens particularly with deposits that have been subject to several phases of mineralisation. The decomposition option in the Distribution Stats display allows these situations to be investigated.