ASTM E1805-02
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Fire Assay Determination of Gold in Copper Concentrates by Gravimetry
Standard Test Method for Fire Assay Determination of Gold in Copper Concentrates by Gravimetry
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is for the determination of gold in copper concentrates in the concentration range from 0.2 to 17 μg/g (0.007 to 0.500 Troy oz/short ton).
Note 1—The lower scope limit is set in accordance with Practice E 1601.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific warning statements, see 11.3.1, 11.5.4, and 11.6.5.
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Designation:E1805–02
Standard Test Method for
Fire Assay Determination of Gold in Copper Concentrates
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by Gravimetry
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1805; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 4. Summary of Test Method
1.1 This test method is for the determination of gold in 4.1 A test sample of copper concentrate is fused in a clay
copper concentrates in the concentration range from 0.2 to 17 crucible. The precious metals are reduced, collected in a lead
µg/g (0.007 to 0.500 Troy oz/short ton). button, and then cupelled in a bone ash crucible, (cupel), to
remove the lead. The remaining doré bead is parted with nitric
NOTE 1—The lower scope limit is set in accordance with Practice
acid to remove the silver and other impurities from the gold.
E 1601.
The gold then is cleaned, and weighed on a microbalance.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
5. Significance and Use
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
5.1 In the metallurgical process used in the mining indus-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
tries, gold is often carried along with copper during the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific
flotation concentration process. Metallurgical accounting, pro-
warning statements, see 11.3.1, 11.5.4, and 11.6.5.
cess control, and concentrate evaluation procedures for this
type of material depend on an accurate, precise measurement
2. Referenced Documents
of the gold in the copper concentrate. This test method is
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
intended to be a reference method for metallurgical laborato-
D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water
ries and a referee method to settle disputes in commercial
E 29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
transactions.
Determine Conformance with Specifications
5.2 It is assumed that all who use this test method will be
E 50 Practices for Apparatus, Reagents, and Safety Precau-
trained analysts capable of performing common laboratory
tions for Chemical Analysis of Metals
operationsskillfullyandsafely.Itisexpectedthattheworkwill
E 135 Terminology Relating to Analytical Chemistry for
be performed in a properly equipped laboratory under appro-
Metals, Ores, and Related Materials
priate quality control practices such as those described in
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Test Pro-
Guide E 882.
gram to Determine the Precision of Test Methods
E 882 Guide for Accountability and Quality Control in the
6. Interferences
Quality Control Laboratory
6.1 Elements normally found in copper concentrates do not
E 1601 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
interfere. High concentrations of arsenic, antimony, tellurium,
Evaluate the Performance of an Analytical Method
bismuth, nickel, and platinum group metals (and, in some
instances, copper), however, may interfere with the fusion and
3. Terminology
cupellation steps.
3.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer to
Terminology E 135.
7. Apparatus
7.1 Analytical Balance, capable of weighing to 0.1 g.
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7.2 Semi-Microbalance, capable of weighing to 0.001 mg.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E01 on
Analytical Chemistry for Metals, Ores, and Related Materials and is the direct
7.3 Assay Mold, 100-mL capacity.
responsibility of Subcommittee E01.02 on Ores, Concentrates, and Related Metal-
7.4 Cube or Cone Mixer, 1000-g capacity.
lurgical Materials.
7.5 Cupel, magnesite or bone ash—40-g lead capacity.
Current edition approved May 10, 2002. Published May 2002. Originally
published as E 1805 - 96. Last previous edition E 1805 - 96. 7.6 Dry Oven, forced air circulation with temperature con-
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
trol, 104°C.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
7.7 Fire Assay Bead Brush.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
7.8 Fire Assay Bead Pliers.
the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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E1805–02
7.9 Fire Assay Clay Crucible, 20 to 30-sample capacity.
Borax glass (Na B 0)15g
2 4 7
Lead oxide (PbO) 55 g
7.10 Fire Assay Tongs, crucible and cupel.
Potassium carbonate 6g
7.11 Fire Assay Tumble Mixer, an industrial mixer-crucible
(K CO )
2 3
tumbler. Potassium nitrate (KNO
)13g
3
Silica (SiO)6g
7.12 Hot P
...
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