Codifying the principles of sampling into mineral standards

National and international sampling standards documents need to be easy to understand and implement, or they will be ignored. However, they need to be technically correct, so that those people who follow the standards will obtain accurate samples. This paper discusses efforts to codify the principles of sampling into standards. The critical importance of sample mass rather than increment mass, correct sample cutter design and operation, disallowing non-representative sampling from stationary situations, and the benefits of routine inspection of mechanical sampling systems are specifically discussed.