Greetings
@Mikrokosmos,
It is quite awhile since my days in the field drilling for gold and at the time there was not any rules to report free gold separate to assay results, furthermore, gold samples were done by Fire Assay, a methyod that you could have results in 36 to 48 hours. Also free gold is not that common to see, as often it is too fine to see with the naked eye, or is tied up with sulphide minerals such as arsenopyrite, pyrite.bismuth and other minerals. Therefore companies can afford to wait for three or four days to report results from a Fire Assay method of analysis. I don't know if things have changed.
Seeing free gold in core whilst exciting, means nothing unless it is quantified over an interval. So, if a company is drilling for Copper, Nickel or other sulphides and know that the ore could contain gold, they just wait till all the assays are done in the laboratory and gold is part of the results when they are completed. Assaying for sulphide mineralisation is much more time consuming to prepare than just assaying for gold. As far as I know, ASIC do not specifically require reporting on free visible gold upon sighting it in the core. Companies however love to including it in press releases for obvious reasons.
To your second question, a company can release results as soon as they receive assay reports from the laboratory. it can be 1assay or 100. there are no limits.
I hope some of what i've explained answers your question and Iwish you well Mikrokosmos with your SGQ investment.
Cheers,
Helmenesh.
