Prior to 1957 Dr. Pierre Gy knew two objectives needed to be addressed to optimize the sample mass with respect to well defined Data Quality Objectives; these two objectives were: First, determine the appropriate sample mass to represent all fragments size fractions present in the lot to be sampled, being perfectly aware that the size fraction most difficult to sample was the size fraction made of the largest fragments. The logic was that the content of the constituent of interest changes from one size fraction to the next. Second, determine the appropriate sample mass to represent the largest particles of a given constituent of interest in a specific state of comminution. Basically, someone had to make the calculation twice and select the worst outcome as the necessary sample mass.

To overcome this difficulty and provide a valid formula for both cases, Dr. Pierre Gy created his famous formula accounting for the size of the largest fragments and taking care of the size of the largest particles of the mineral of interest by introducing the concept of the liberation factor for a given state of comminution. This was at the time a huge academic achievement. However, it is well known that over the years this formula and the determination of the liberation factor led to arguments, controversy, and vast misuse from sampling practitioners. That new revolutionary approach that was suggested by Dr. Pierre Gy turns out to be too complicated for sampling practitioners to resolve their sampling problems effectively, and not be the target of unfair criticism.

This paper suggests a wise return to the old strategy making the calculations twice and determine what is the worst scenario to determine the necessary sample mass. The approach is simple, with no necessary determination of a liberation factor, and unlikely to lead to errors due to the inherent complexity of Dr. Pierre Gy’s famous formula.