The Sampling and Assay of the Precious Metals: Comprising Gold, Silver, Platinum, and the Platinum Group Metals in Ores, Bullion, and Products (Classic Reprint)

Master the science of sampling and assaying the precious metals, from ores to bullion, with practical methods you can rely on. This comprehensive guide covers gold, silver, platinum, and the platinum group metals in all their forms.

This field manual presents a full description of sampling and assay methods for the precious metals contained in ores, bullion, and metallurgical products. It emphasizes practical, repeatable procedures and includes both dry and wet techniques, with attention to cyanide-process sampling and the special needs of complex ores. The book is designed for students and practicing assayers, offering grounded guidance on office design, equipment, and workflow to support accurate results.

Readers will gain a clear path from selecting samples to reporting results, with careful notes on calculations, slag and flux choices, and the handling of difficult ore types. The text also describes the equipment and processes used in modern assay work, including laboratory organization, furnaces, balances, and the preparation of assay pieces.

• Definitions, scope, and historical context of assaying and sampling


• Design, records, and operation of assay offices and laboratories


• Detailed methods for preparing samples, grinding, and fluxing


• Various furnace, cupellation, and scorification techniques for complex ores

Ideal for readers of technical metallurgical reference works and professionals working in precious-metal industries, who seek reliable methods and practical guidance in sampling and assay discipline.