How a Remote Mine Lab Battles the Global Silver Supply Crisis

The global silver market has faced ongoing supply shortages over the past five years, with a total deficit of 820 million ounces. COMEX inventory levels have also dropped by more than 70% since 2020, partly due to slow mining growth and geopolitical pressures. Meanwhile, at Prognoz's Vertikalnoye mine, a specialised laboratory plays a key role in ensuring accurate silver extraction and analysis.

The Assay and Analytical Laboratory at Vertikalnoye is responsible for measuring the concentration of precious metals—silver, copper, zinc, and lead—in ores and processed materials. Its work is critical to Prognoz's production chain, as errors in analysis could lead to major financial losses. To maintain accuracy, results undergo both internal checks and external verification.

Once ore is extracted, it is crushed, ground, and packaged before being sent to the lab. Technicians then dissolve samples in acid and analyse them using an atomic absorption spectrometer. The lab provides real-time data on silver content, ensuring objective and reliable testing. Leading the team is Gloria Nikolaeva, a chemistry graduate appointed as lab supervisor despite having no prior managerial experience. Prognoz actively recruits young women with potential, offering training and mentorship to new hires. Nikolaeva's career progression was supported by her mentor, Olga Ivanovna Smirnova, the lab's former chief. Employees at Prognoz work in extended shifts, with 49 days on-site followed by an equal rest period. Some staff prefer this schedule over a traditional five-day workweek, finding it easier to manage.

The lab's precise analysis helps Prognoz maintain efficient silver production amid a challenging market. With persistent global supply deficits and declining inventories, accurate testing remains vital for the company's operations. The mine's structured training and shift system also support a stable and skilled workforce.