SGS buys Verilab, upgrades potassium accreditation

SGS Minerals has acquired Chilebased geochemical analysts Verilab.

Verilab, which is located in Antofagasta, employs a staff of 110 and reported a revenue of $3.85 million for 2009. The company, founded in 1997, uses fire assay, wet chemistry and instrumental techniques to perform exploration and grade control analysis for the burgeoning mining industry in northern Chile.

In a press release, SGS touted the acquisition as an expansion of its metallurgical and trade-related services previously offered in the region.

It also allows the company to use Verilab’s geochemical and analytical services.

In addition to its Latin American acquisition, SGS has been busy upgrading its laboratory in Vancouver to add the Saskatchewan Potash Producer Association (SPPA) method for analyzing potassium oxide.

With the SPPA method in place, SGS has received accreditation from the Standards Council of Canada (a federal Crown corporation established to promote voluntary standardization) for use of the process.

The Vancouver lab will use the method to improve its analysis of potassium oxide for fertilizer.

SGS Minerals was founded in 1878 and provides inspection, verification and certification services worldwide.