Terms & Conditions

These Terms and Conditions govern the provision of analytical geochemical testing, fire assaying, environmental monitoring, sample preparation, metallurgical testwork, and technical consultancy services provided by Rock Vein Assay Laboratories Limited (RVA Labs) to exploration companies, commercial mining operators, governmental bodies, and private clients.

1. Binding Agreement & Sample Acceptance

Submission of physical samples, sample dispatch manifests, or digital quotation requests constitutes acceptance of these Terms and Conditions. Any conflicting terms proposed by the Client in purchase orders or standard agreements shall be void unless explicitly agreed upon in writing by an authorized Director of RVA Labs.

2. Sample Submission & Chain of Custody (CoC)

• Documentation: Every sample consignment delivered to Mwanza HQ or regional depots (Geita, Kahama, Mbeya/Chunya, Dodoma) must be accompanied by an official RVA Chain of Custody (CoC) form clearly detailing sample IDs, matrix types, requested analytical codes, and hazard warnings (e.g., presence of high-arsenic, high-antimony, or radioactive minerals).
• Packaging & Integrity: Samples must be securely bagged, sealed, and clearly numbered. RVA Labs reserves the right to reject damaged, leaking, contaminated, or improperly identified consignments upon arrival.
• Risk & Freight: Unless RVA Laboratory Freight Pickup is contracted in writing, samples remain at the Client’s risk during transit until physical custody is officially logged and acknowledged by an authorized RVA sample intake officer.

3. Analytical Execution & Quality Control (QA/QC)

• Method Standards: Assays are executed strictly in accordance with documented standard operating procedures (SOPs) compliant with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 guidelines.
• Quality Control Insertion: Every batch incorporates a minimum 20% quality control allocation comprising Certified Reference Materials (CRMs), coarse blanks, pulp duplicates, and repeat instrument reads.
• JORC & NI 43-101 Defensibility: Final signed Certificates of Analysis (CoA) represent verified laboratory data defensible under international reporting codes. Results apply strictly to the specific samples tested.

4. Turnaround Time (TAT) & Expedited Services

Standard turnaround times (typically 3–5 working days from sample receipt and comminution) are provided as good-faith targets. While RVA Labs maintains industry-leading turnaround discipline, TAT targets may be influenced by batch size, required acid digestion protocols, or rush reruns required by internal QC tolerances. Fast-track (24–48h) rush services are subject to prior laboratory capacity booking and rush surcharge rates.

5. Sample Retention, Return & Safe Disposal

• Pulps (<75µm): Retained in secure laboratory storage free of charge for 90 calendar days following Certificate issuance, after which pulps may be archived under monthly storage fees, returned at Client expense, or disposed of.
• Coarse Rejects: Retained for 60 calendar days, after which unclaimed material will be environmentally disposed of in accordance with Tanzania National Environment Management Council (NEMC) guidelines.
• Hazardous Effluent / Residue: Samples containing toxic, radioactive, or biohazardous components will be neutralized and disposed of strictly under Government Chemist Laboratory Authority (GCLA) and NEMC hazardous waste protocols.

6. Quotations, Invoicing & Payment Terms

• All quotations are denominated in US Dollars (USD) or Tanzanian Shillings (TZS) and remain valid for 30 calendar days from issuance unless otherwise specified.
• Payment is due prior to Certificate release for first-time submissions or standard commercial accounts, or within 30 days of invoice date for approved institutional credit facilities.
• Overdue accounts accrue interest at 1.5% per month or the maximum rate permitted by Tanzanian law.

7. Limitation of Liability & Assay Repeatability

• RVA Labs exercises professional competence, calibrated instrumentation, and validated methodologies. In the unlikely event of laboratory processing failure, sample loss, or verified analytical discrepancy, RVA Labs’ liability is strictly limited to re-assaying the affected samples at no additional cost, or refunding the assay fee paid for the specific affected samples.
• RVA Labs shall in no event be liable for indirect, consequential, speculative, commercial loss, loss of mineral concession value, or mining operational delays.

8. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

These Terms and Conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the United Republic of Tanzania. Any unresolved dispute arising out of or in connection with analytical testing agreements shall be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts of Mwanza, Tanzania.