A Guide to Sampling & Assaying Procedures

Whether it consists of hard scrap, bench sweeps, floor sweeps, polishing dust, sludge and solutions, or any combination of the above, your refining lot is more than just an assortment of precious-metal leftovers; it’s money. How much money depends on a variety of factors—from the tracking and capturing of metals to the final preparation and shipment—but the final determination relies on the sampling and assaying of your lot.

To analyze metals, refiners typically choose from among several methods based on the lot’s makeup and the metals it contains. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, and some are used in tandem. For designers and manufacturers, knowing more about these assaying methods, as well as the commonly used sampling techniques, can lead to a better working relationship with their refiners. To help with that, the following pages contain a quick primer on how these methods work.