What Does Assay Mean?

In English, the meaning of assay is merely to “analyse”. In scientific terms, it means purification. Assay is a broad term and this word is used at quite a few places. Its core meaning is the same but its applications out there in the markets are diverse.

Hallmarks are special symbols that stand for some specific thing. For example, a 750 stamp means 18k gold; and 999 means 24k gold. There are a lot of methods for assaying gold or bullion: the touchstone method, X-Ray florescence and Cupellation. Each of these methods determines the fineness of the gold product, as claimed by the manufacturer.

The Touchstone method is employed in cases where the product under analysis is extremely rare or precious. Touchstone is a special assaying tool which determines the fineness of the product up to 10 to 20 parts per thousand, precisely. The product under question is rubbed with the touchstone and then removed. The touchstone is then treated with acids or chemicals and the colour difference is studied with the help of references.

To execute the process of assaying, the primary step that is taken is that the ore is grounded to a form of fine powder in an iron mortar and pestle. Others might work as well but it is recommended not to make use of one that is made from marble. Firstly, it is soft and the quartz in the ore would certainly destroy it. After the ore is grounded, borax is added as a flux to the ore.

X-Ray florescence method is a latest and very quick method of assaying gold products. It is also used mostly on precious gold pieces which cannot be destroyed by other methods of assaying. This method is ideal for flat and large surfaced products. It doesn’t take more than 3 minutes to test the metal and it generates a computer print of the test result.

The third application of this word is in medical laboratories where doctors do an immunoflorescence assay of the DNA and it is used in finding out maternal and paternal relations, finding out genetic abnormalities, cross matching procedures, determining the absence or presence of a banned substance in the bodied of sports players and in forensic criminal investigations.

When the button exhibits the weight, it still comprises of other metals that it has earlier in the ore. Therefore, to make the measurement accurate, it is important to determine the quantity of gold present in the ore. It is then stirred into the dilute nitric acid. Except for gold, all other metals would dissolve and there would be a residue left behind that would not have dissolved, and the remainder is what is called pure gold.

Gold and silver coins are also assayed by the appointed assay offices. This was important at a time when gold and silver coins were uses in daily commerce; nowadays, the use of gold and silver coins as currency is suspended in many countries of the world. But gold coins are still available for small scale investment purpose or as a means of exchange of gifts on special occasions. There are local gold assay offices everywhere in the world that can find out the purity of the gold products which you wish to get assessed.

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