Introduction to the Theory of Sampling of Particulate Materials: Definition of Basic Terms and Symbols. Fundamental Statistical Concepts. A Logical Introduction to the Components of the Overall Estimation Error. Correctness of a Sampling Strategy. Heterogeneity: A Logical Introduction to the Notion of Heterogeneity. Heterogeneity of a Zero-Dimensional Lot: Constitution and Distribution Heterogeneities. Heterogeneity of a One-Dimension Lot: Notion of Variography. Sampling Errors Introduced by Various Forms of Heterogeneity: Sampling of One-Dimensional Lots: The Continuous Model.

Sampling of Zero-Dimensional Lots: The Discrete Model. The Fundamental Error. Minimizing the Fundamental Error in Sampling. The Grouping and Segregation Error. The Capital Notion of Sampling Correctness: The Materialization Error and the Selection Modes. The Delimitation Error. The Extraction Error. The Preparation Error: Notion of Sampling Integrity.

Review of Some Particular Sampling Problems: Sampling for the Determination of the Moisture Content. Sampling for Particle Size Distribution Analysis. Peculiarities about the Sampling of Precious Metals. Sampling for Trace Constituents in High Purity Materials. Sampling of Liquid and Solid Wastes and Sampling of the Environment. Notion of Proportional Sampling. Solvable and Unsolvable Sampling Problems. Homogenization: Homogenization Processes.

Bed Blending Techniques. Conclusion and Recommendations: The Use of the Variogram to Elaborate Meaningful Process Control Charts. Recommendations to Manufacturers of Sampling Equipment, and to Engineering Firms. Dissociation of a Complex Problem into a Sum of Simple Problems. References. Index.