An
assayer is a person who tests
oreAn ore is a type of rock that contains minerals such as gemstones or metals that can be extracted through mining and refined for use. Samples of ore in the form of exceptionally beautiful crystals, exotic layering visible when sectioned or polished or metallic presentations such as large nuggets or...
s and
mineralA mineral is a naturally occurring solid formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition, a highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. A rock, by comparison, is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids, and need not have a specific...
s and analyzes them to determine their composition and value. They may use spectrographic analysis, chemical solutions, and chemical or laboratory equipment, such as
furnaceA furnace is a device used for heating. The name derives from Latin fornax, oven. The earliest furnace was excavated at Balakot, a site of the Indus Valley Civilization, dating back to its mature phase...
s,
beakerA 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 and a lip for pouring. Many also have a small spout to aid pouring as shown in the picture...
s,
graduatesA graduated cylinder is a piece of laboratory equipment used to accurately measure the volume of an object. Graduated cylinders are generally more accurate and precise for this purpose than flasks and beakers...
,
pipetteA pipette is a laboratory instrument used to transport a measured volume of liquid.-Use and variations:Pipettes are commonly used in molecular biology as well as medical tests...
s, and
crucibleA crucible is a heat-resistant container in which materials can be heated to very high temperatures. The use of crucibles to manufacture Crucible steel, introduced in England in the eighteenth century, was an important part of the Industrial Revolution....
s.
An assayer separates metals or other components from dross materials by
solutionIn chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of two or more substances. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. Gases may dissolve in liquids, for example, carbon dioxide or oxygen in water. Liquids may dissolve in other liquids. Gases can...
,
flotation processFlotation 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
slagSlag is a partially vitreous by-product of smelting ore to separating the metal fraction from the worthless fraction. It can be considered to be a mixture of metal oxides; however, slags can contain metal sulfides and metal atoms in the elemental form...
s of
leadLead is a main-group element with symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal, also considered to be one of the heavy metals. Lead has a bluish-white color when freshly cut, but tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed to air...
,
boraxBorax, 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.
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An
assayer is a person who tests
oreAn ore is a type of rock that contains minerals such as gemstones or metals that can be extracted through mining and refined for use. Samples of ore in the form of exceptionally beautiful crystals, exotic layering visible when sectioned or polished or metallic presentations such as large nuggets or...
s and
mineralA mineral is a naturally occurring solid formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition, a highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. A rock, by comparison, is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids, and need not have a specific...
s and analyzes them to determine their composition and value. They may use spectrographic analysis, chemical solutions, and chemical or laboratory equipment, such as
furnaceA furnace is a device used for heating. The name derives from Latin fornax, oven. The earliest furnace was excavated at Balakot, a site of the Indus Valley Civilization, dating back to its mature phase...
s,
beakerA 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 and a lip for pouring. Many also have a small spout to aid pouring as shown in the picture...
s,
graduatesA graduated cylinder is a piece of laboratory equipment used to accurately measure the volume of an object. Graduated cylinders are generally more accurate and precise for this purpose than flasks and beakers...
,
pipetteA pipette is a laboratory instrument used to transport a measured volume of liquid.-Use and variations:Pipettes are commonly used in molecular biology as well as medical tests...
s, and
crucibleA crucible is a heat-resistant container in which materials can be heated to very high temperatures. The use of crucibles to manufacture Crucible steel, introduced in England in the eighteenth century, was an important part of the Industrial Revolution....
s.
An assayer separates metals or other components from dross materials by
solutionIn chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of two or more substances. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. Gases may dissolve in liquids, for example, carbon dioxide or oxygen in water. Liquids may dissolve in other liquids. Gases can...
,
flotation processFlotation 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
slagSlag is a partially vitreous by-product of smelting ore to separating the metal fraction from the worthless fraction. It can be considered to be a mixture of metal oxides; however, slags can contain metal sulfides and metal atoms in the elemental form...
s of
leadLead is a main-group element with symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal, also considered to be one of the heavy metals. Lead has a bluish-white color when freshly cut, but tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed to air...
,
boraxBorax, 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
- Assay
An assay is a procedure in molecular biology for testing and/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 Assayer
The 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 Gap
The Assayer of Lone Gap is a 1915 short film directed by B. Reeves Eason.-Cast:* Perry Banks* Louise Lester* Jack Richardson* Vivian Rich* Walter Spencer...
, a 1915 short film