Which term refers to an analysis that determines the chemical composition of a sample?

• A. Geochemical Testing
• B. Microdiamond Testing
• C. Ore Grade
• D. Dense Media Separation

Answer: (A)

Determining the chemical makeup of a sample is geochemical testing. It involves analyzing the material to identify which elements are present and in what quantities, giving a full chemical profile rather than just physical properties. In practice, geochemical testing uses instruments such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) or inductively coupled plasma techniques to quantify major elements and trace elements, helping to characterize gemstones and minerals. This differs from microdiamond testing, which focuses on confirming whether a microcrystal is a diamond and on its optical/physical properties rather than its overall chemistry. Ore grade describes how much of the valuable material exists in ore—its concentration per unit—rather than performing a complete chemical analysis. Dense media separation is a separation process that uses the density of materials to sort minerals, not an analysis of composition.