To determine the quantity of gold present within a specimen, a process known as fire assay can be applied. When a sample is heated in the furnace, this method purifies everything else outside of it. You are left over with just the gold when you do this. However, be aware that this exam can be very expensive. Therefore, it is crucial to be aware of the pricing and expenses involved so that you can save money while being able to receive the required information.
If you have bulk fire assay tests to do, then testing many samples simultaneously can be a great option for saving some bucks. Batching is what they call this technique. You group a bunch of samples together and test them—which is far more efficient than testing one sample at a time. That means you only have to run the furnace and use any other tools for each sample only once, and then divide that cost amongst all of them. Batch some of your samples to reduce the cost each individual sample costs you, making it much cheaper overall.
Selecting a trusted lab is the next essential step. You want to ensure that the lab you choose has spent a lot of timefire assay testing. By choosing a good lab, you will be assured of results that are more accurate. Getting results right means you won’t spend more on retests or extra testing making it easy for you in the long run.
One of the best ways to reduce firing assay sample cost is to ensure that you prepare your samples properly. That is ensuring that the sample is well ground and homogeneously mixed. A good sample preparation allows your test to truly reflect the material you have tested. This prevents extra testing or corrections which in turn saves time and money if one prepares properly.
Fire assay is a little more on the costly side, but measures how much gold is contained in your sample and is generally considered to be one of the best and most accurate methods for doing so. Other techniques, like atomic absorption spectroscopy or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, may be cheaper. But those methods might be less precise than fire assay.
Choosing between the two methods will depend on which option caters to your needs the best. Fire assay may be the best fit for your project if obtaining the most precise answer is of utmost importance. Nevertheless, if your priority is to save money, you should consider looking into those other cost-effective methods.
If a high quantity needs to be tested, it may cost more because we will take longer testing and use more resources and energy heating the samples in the furnace. Likewise, if you require a more advanced analysis—such as when the process includes courting different parts or mixtures—it can be more expensive than an easy assessment.