About Rock Vein Assay Laboratories
Specialized commercial geochemical assaying, multi-element spectrometry, and metallurgical testwork headquartered in Mwanza, Tanzania.
Welcome to RVA Labs. We provide accredited-grade analytical solutions that bring certainty to mineral exploration and extraction.
We go beyond standard sample testing: we operate as a dedicated Total Quality Assurance and technical partner to mining operations, exploration geologists, and environmental managers across East Africa.
Headquartered in the regional mining hub of Mwanza, Tanzania, Rock Vein Assay Laboratories Limited (RVA Labs) is strategically positioned in the heart of the Lake Victoria Greenstone Belt. Our facility serves major gold exploration campaigns, active open-pit and underground operations, and artisanal mining cooperatives throughout Geita, Kahama, Musoma, Mara, and Chunya.
By uniting high-throughput mechanical sample preparation, classical lead-collection fire assay furnaces, modern argon-plasma optical spectrometry (ICP-OES), and comprehensive environmental wet chemistry under one roof, we eliminate cross-border logistical bottlenecks and deliver rapid, defensible analytical certificates with standard (5 to 7 days) and guaranteed 48-hour priority rush turnaround schedules.
Our Mission
To exceed our mining and exploration partners' expectations with rapid, audit-ready Fire Assay, ICP Geochemistry, and Metallurgical process testing for their operations and drill campaigns 24/7.
Our Vision
To be East Africa's most trusted independent commercial laboratory for mineral assay and geochemical analysis, setting the benchmark for precision and turnaround speed.
Our Customer Promise
As your trusted analytical partner, we deliver defensible assay data consistently with precision, speed, and strict chain of custody, empowering exploration and mine teams to make critical decisions with complete confidence.
Our core values
The operational principles that guide our chemists, assayers, and technicians every single day.
We always do the right thing
With absolute precision, pace, and scientific integrity. We never compromise on calibration, sample integrity, or certified QA protocols.
Defensibility first
Every number that leaves our laboratory must withstand international investor scrutiny, resource auditor audits, and regulatory review.
Partnership and transparency
We build durable relationships with geologists and mine operators through transparent reporting, open lab inspections, and responsive technical advice.
Shaping regional capability
We invest in world-class instrumentation and Tanzanian laboratory talent, proving that internationally credible assaying happens right here in Mwanza.
Sustainable stewardship
We practice rigorous environmental management within our facility and provide robust water and baseline testing to safeguard local ecosystems.
What we do for our clients
We deliver a fully integrated framework of Assurance, Testing, Inspection, and Certification (ATIC) services that provide complete certainty across mineral exploration and extraction.
Assurance
Enabling mining companies and geologists to mitigate operational risk through Certified Reference Materials (CRMs), coarse blanks, and duplicate repeats on every analytical batch.
Testing
Executing precision gold fire assays, 36-element ICP-OES suites, diagnostic cyanidation, and effluent water analysis against international ASTM and ISO standards.
Inspection
Verifying incoming consignment integrity, sample weigh-in, moisture determination, and granulometric sieve sizing (85% passing 75 microns) prior to chemical attack.
Certification
Issuing legally defensible, electronically verified Certificates of Analysis (CoAs) backed by a 7-year data archive for resource estimation and regulatory audits.
In-house laboratory instrumentation
Our Mwanza analytical complex houses dedicated industrial preparation and precision analytical instruments engineered for high throughput and tight detection thresholds.
High-Temperature Fusion & Cupellation
Dedicated heavy-duty electric fusion furnaces operating at 1,050°C and muffle cupellation furnaces at 950°C. Equipped with multi-tier exhaust scrubber systems and pneumatic pot loaders for continuous 50g fire assay charges.
Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS)
Precision Flame AAS featuring automated burner heads, deuterium background correction, and hollow cathode lamps for precious metals (Au, Ag) and base metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co).
Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES)
High-resolution optical emission spectrometer utilizing an argon plasma torch (6,000 to 10,000 K) with robotic autosampler carousel for simultaneous determination of up to 48 elements in complex silicate and sulphide matrices.
Mechanical Sample Preparation Plant
Heavy-duty industrial jaw crushers (>70% passing 2mm), automated rotary and riffle dividers, and Rocklabs chrome-free steel ring pulverizers (>85% passing 75µm / 200 mesh) backed by industrial dust extraction and barren quartz washes.
Analytical Micro-Balance Clean Room
Climate and humidity-controlled balance room equipped with Mettler Toledo analytical microbalances reading to 0.0001 g (0.1 mg). Calibrated daily with certified Class E2 stainless steel weights for gravimetric gold doré prill parting.
Metallurgical Agitation & Flotation Bank
Motorized multi-tier bottle roll agitators for cyanidation leach kinetics (24 to 72 hours), benchtop Denver flotation test cells with variable-speed impellers, and automated BLEG large-mass bottle rolls.
Operating to International Laboratory Practice
Every analytical batch processed through RVA Labs is governed by quality management protocols aligned with ISO/IEC 17025 principles, ASTM methods, and EPA standards.