| Assaying is defined as the subjection of the metal | | | | The most common and the traditional fire |
| to chemical analysis in order to determine the | | | | assaying method consist of six steps. The first |
| strength, and quality of its components. This is | | | | step is the collection of the sample. The collected |
| one of the processes in metallurgy. It is a process | | | | sample is then subjected to the fusion process. |
| of extracting precious, or essential metals form | | | | This includes the melting of the ore, and its mixing |
| their ores. An ore is a combination of many | | | | with the other reagents. Thus, metal gains the |
| metals. Some of them are found in traces. This | | | | shape of droplet. This droplet, then easily |
| process analyses the specific metallic content of | | | | descends into the crucible. The left over material |
| the ore, alloy, or any other combination of metals. | | | | is called slag, which is ejected through an outlet. |
| It may be a complex, or a simple process. In the | | | | The impurities are oxidised by using certain |
| complex process, the ore is subjected to | | | | reagents. These impurities mainly include lead, and |
| complete metals analysis whereas, in the simple | | | | iron. At the high temperature, the left over |
| process, the quantity of only one or two specific | | | | precious metals such as gold, and silver assume |
| metals is measured. | | | | the shape of droplet. The next very important |
| In the assaying technique, when the weight of the | | | | step is the weighing of these beads. All the beads |
| metal is measured it is called gravimetric assay. | | | | are weighed to determine the quantity of the |
| Usually wet assay technique that employs the | | | | precious metal in the ore. |
| liquid reagents is used in such analytical process. | | | | The next step is the individual measurement of |
| When the volume of the metal is under | | | | the weight of gold, and silver. For this purpose the |
| consideration, it is called volumetric assay. The dry | | | | silver is dissolved by using nitric acid. Now the left |
| assay utilises the process of fusion of the ore to | | | | over gold beads are measured. This is the weight |
| get the metal in a pure state. | | | | of the gold. The weight of silver is measured by |
| There are many traditional and sophisticated | | | | subtracting gold weight form the total gold silver |
| methods used in the assaying process. The | | | | weight. |
| ancient alchemists and the goldsmiths employed | | | | There is a chance of molten impurities to get |
| the method of subjection of the base metals to | | | | mixed with the gold silver beads. For this purpose, |
| heat. This process is termed as fire assaying. This | | | | further specification are made by the use of arc |
| traditional method is still very popular among the | | | | spectrograph. This separates the gold, and other |
| commercial reefing processes. The other | | | | impurities based on their mass to charge ratio. A |
| sophisticated method is by means of | | | | graph is obtained that shows the percentage of |
| spectrometric analysis. It has its own importance, | | | | gold, silver, and other impurity metal present in |
| but it is not suitable when the precious metals are | | | | the ore. Other metals including bismuth, tin, |
| randomly scattered. As in this case, large sample | | | | antimony, and copper can also be analysed by this |
| is subjected to analysis. | | | | method. |