Assayer
Encyclopedia
An assayer is a person who tests ore
s and mineral
s and analyzes them to determine their composition and value. They may use spectrographic analysis
, chemical solutions, and chemical or laboratory equipment, such as furnace
s, beaker
s, graduates
, pipette
s, and crucible
s.
An assayer separates metals or other components from dross materials by solution
, flotation process
, or other liquid processes, or by dry methods, such as application of heat to form slag
s of lead
, borax
, and other impurities. Residues may be weighed on a balance to determine any proportion of precious metals or other components. Specialists in testing and analyzing precious metals are designated gold-and-silver assayer.
Ore
An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable element....
s and mineral
Mineral
A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not...
s and analyzes them to determine their composition and value. They may use spectrographic analysis
Spectrograph
A spectrograph is an instrument that separates an incoming wave into a frequency spectrum. There are several kinds of machines referred to as spectrographs, depending on the precise nature of the waves...
, chemical solutions, and chemical or laboratory equipment, such as furnace
Furnace
A furnace is a device used for heating. The name derives from Latin fornax, oven.In American English and Canadian English, the term furnace on its own is generally used to describe household heating systems based on a central furnace , and sometimes as a synonym for kiln, a device used in the...
s, beaker
Beaker (glassware)
A beaker is a simple container for stirring, mixing and heating liquids commonly used in many laboratories. Beakers are generally cylindrical in shape, with a flat bottom. Most also have a small spout to aid pouring as shown in the picture...
s, graduates
Graduated cylinder
A graduated cylinder, measuring cylinder or graduate is a piece of laboratory equipment used to accurately measure the volume of a liquid. Water displacement can be used to find out the volume of a solid. Graduated cylinders are generally more accurate and precise for this purpose than flasks and...
, pipette
Pipette
A pipette is a laboratory tool used to transport a measured volume of liquid.-Use and variations:Pipettes are commonly used in molecular biology, analytical chemistry as well as medical tests...
s, and crucible
Crucible
A crucible is a container used for metal, glass, and pigment production as well as a number of modern laboratory processes, which can withstand temperatures high enough to melt or otherwise alter its contents...
s.
An assayer separates metals or other components from dross materials by solution
Solution
In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. The solvent does the dissolving.- Types of solutions :...
, flotation process
Flotation process
Flotation process is a method of separation widely used in the wastewater treatment and mineral processing industries.Various flotation processes include the following:* Dissolved air flotation...
, or other liquid processes, or by dry methods, such as application of heat to form slag
Slag
Slag is a partially vitreous by-product of smelting ore to separate the metal fraction from the unwanted fraction. It can usually be considered to be a mixture of metal oxides and silicon dioxide. However, slags can contain metal sulfides and metal atoms in the elemental form...
s of lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
, borax
Borax
Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid. It is usually a white powder consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve easily in water.Borax has a wide variety of uses...
, and other impurities. Residues may be weighed on a balance to determine any proportion of precious metals or other components. Specialists in testing and analyzing precious metals are designated gold-and-silver assayer.
See also
- AssayAssayAn assay is a procedure in molecular biology for testing or measuring the activity of a drug or biochemical in an organism or organic sample. A quantitative assay may also measure the amount of a substance in a sample. Bioassays and immunoassays are among the many varieties of specialized...
- The AssayerThe AssayerThe Assayer was a book published in Rome by Galileo Galilei in October 1623.The book was a polemic against the treatise on the comets of 1618 by Orazio Grassi, a Jesuit mathematician at the Collegio Romano. In this matter Grassi, for all his Aristotelianism, was right and Galileo was wrong...
, a book published in Rome by Galileo Galilei in October 1623 - The Assayer of Lone GapThe Assayer of Lone Gap-Cast:* Perry Banks* Louise Lester* Jack Richardson* Vivian Rich* Walter Spencer...
, a 1915 short film