Abstract Statistical study of the triplicate analytical data shows a general tendency that subsampling error is comparatively low for samples with Au value 1-10 ppb. The error increases in the medium Au value range. For higher Au value range, the subsampling error decreases again. This can be attributed to the follo-wing reasons; (1) in the samples with low Au value, the gold particles are very small; (2) in the samples with medium Au value, the subsampling error is dependent on gold particle size: if gold particles are in ultrafine size, the subsampling errors will be insignificant, but if there are unevenly distributed macroscopic particles, the subsampling errors will be great; and(3) in the samples with higher Au value, the macroscopic particles are abundant, so the subsampling errois are low.Although there exist great variations among the triplicate analytical data of individual samples, the trend, shape, intensity and dimensions of an anomaly re-main consistent.
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