ASTM B562-95(2017)

Standard Specification for Refined Gold

ABSTRACT
This specification covers refined gold of Grades 99.5, 99.95, 99.99, and 99.995 in cast bar forms. Other forms of unfabricated gold of commerce are not to be excluded under this specification. The metal may be produced by any refining process that yields products capable of meeting the specified chemical composition requirements. Chemical assessment samples may be taken from the melt before pouring and shall be in the form of shots or pins, or by other alternative means on agreement between the manufacturer and purchaser.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers refined gold in cast bar form (Note 1).  
1.1.1 Grade 99.5—Gold having a minimum fineness of 995.  
1.1.2 Grade 99.95—Gold having a minimum fineness of 999.5.  
1.1.3 Grade 99.99—Gold having a minimum fineness of 999.9.  
1.1.4 Grade 99.995—Gold having a minimum fineness of 999.95.  
Note 1: Other forms of unfabricated gold of commerce are not to be excluded under this specification.  
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.3 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 become familiar with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for this product/material as provided by the manufacturer, to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices, and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2017
• ICS: 77.120.99 - Other non-ferrous metals and their alloys
• Technical Committee: B02 - Nonferrous Metals and Alloys
• Drafting Committee: B02.05 - Precious Metals and Electrical Contact Materials and Test Methods

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:B562 −95(Reapproved 2017)
Standard Specification for
1
Refined Gold
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B562; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
Determine Conformance with Specifications
1.1 This specification covers refined gold in cast bar form
E1446 Test Method for Chemical Analysis of Refined Gold
(Note 1).
by Direct Current Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry
1.1.1 Grade 99.5—Gold having a minimum fineness of 995.
1.1.2 Grade 99.95—Gold having a minimum fineness of
3. Materials and Manufacture
999.5.
1.1.3 Grade 99.99—Gold having a minimum fineness of
3.1 The metal may be produced by any process that yields a
999.9.
product capable of meeting the requirements of this specifica-
1.1.4 Grade 99.995—Gold having a minimum fineness of
tion. The purchaser, upon request, shall be informed of the
999.95.
refining process used.
NOTE 1—Other forms of unfabricated gold of commerce are not to be
3.2 The bars shall be of a quality generally acceptable to the
excluded under this specification.
trade.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
4. Chemical Composition
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
4.1 The refined gold shall conform to the chemical compo-
and are not considered standard.
sition prescribed in Table 1.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
NOTE 2—For purposes of determining conformance with this
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
specification, an observed value obtained from analysis shall be rounded
responsibility of the user of this standard to become familiar
to the nearest unit in the last right-hand place of figures used in expressing
with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate
the limiting value, in accordance with the rounding method of Practice
E29.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for this product/material as provided
by the manufacturer, to establish appropriate safety, health,
and environmental practices, and determine the applicability 5. Sampling
of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5.1 On agreement between the manufacturer and the
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
purchaser, a sample may be taken from the melt before pouring
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
(Note 3). The sample shall be in the form of shot or pins (Note
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
4 and Note 5).
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
NOTE 3—Asingle melt or bar(s) cast from a single melt shall constitute
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
a lot for sampling.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3
NOTE 4—Pins of ⁄8 in. (9.5 mm) or other suitable diameter may be cast
into graphite molds or drawn into evacuated glass tubes. In some cases it
2. Referenced Documents
may be necessary to draw the glass tube pins through 60-grit emery paper
2
before acid leaching to remove adhering glass particles.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
NOTE 5—In order to avoid surface contamination, the sample, irrespec-
tive of its nature, is to be leached in hot 1 + 1 HCl for 5 min, washed in
water, rinsed twice in alcohol or acetone, and dried in a muffle at 110°C
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on
before portions are taken for analysis.
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
B02.05 on Precious Metals and Electrical Contact Materials.
5.2 On agreement between manufacturer and purchaser an
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2017. Published November 2017. Originally
alternative sampling procedure may be used.
approved in 1972. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as B562 – 95 (2012).
DOI: 10.1520/B0562-95R17.
5.3 The amount of sample taken shall be sufficient to supply
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
three portions for analysis; the mass of each portion shall be
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
sufficient to permit the determination of its composition as set
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. forth in Table 1.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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B562−95(2017)
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
Composition,%
A
Element
Grade 99.5 Gra
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: B562 − 95 (Reapproved 2012) B562 − 95 (Reapproved 2017)
Standard Specification for
1
Refined Gold
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B562; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers refined gold in cast bar form (Note 1).
1.1.1 Grade 99.5—Gold having a minimum fineness of 995.
1.1.2 Grade 99.95—Gold having a minimum fineness of 999.5.
1.1.3 Grade 99.99—Gold having a minimum fineness of 999.9.
1.1.4 Grade 99.995—Gold having a minimum fineness of 999.95.
NOTE 1—Other forms of unfabricated gold of commerce are not to be excluded under this specification.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.3 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 become familiar with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate Material Safety Data
Sheet (MSDS)(SDS) for this product/material as provided by the manufacturer, to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and
healthenvironmental practices, and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
E1446 Test Method for Chemical Analysis of Refined Gold by Direct Current Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry
3. Materials and Manufacture
3.1 The metal may be produced by any process that yields a product capable of meeting the requirements of this specification.
The purchaser, upon request, shall be informed of the refining process used.
3.2 The bars shall be of a quality generally acceptable to the trade.
4. Chemical Composition
4.1 The refined gold shall conform to the chemical composition prescribed in Table 1.
NOTE 2—For purposes of determining conformance with this specification, an observed value obtained from analysis shall be rounded to the nearest
unit in the last right-hand place of figures used in expressing the limiting value, in accordance with the rounding method of Practice E29.
5. Sampling
5.1 On agreement between the manufacturer and the purchaser, a sample may be taken from the melt before pouring (Note 3).
The sample shall be in the form of shot or pins (Note 4 and Note 5).
NOTE 3—A single melt or bar(s) cast from a single melt shall constitute a lot for sampling.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B02.05 on
Precious Metals and Electrical Contact Materials.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2012Nov. 1, 2017. Published November 2012November 2017. Originally approved in 1972. Last previous edition approved in 20052012
as B562 – 95 (2005).(2012). DOI: 10.1520/B0562-95R12.10.1520/B0562-95R17.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’sstandard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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B562 − 95 (2017)
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
Composition,%
A
Element
Grade 99.5 Grade 99.95 Grade 99.99 Grade 99.995
Gold, min 99.5 . . .
Gold, min (by difference) . 99.95 99.99 99.995
Silver + copper, max . 0.04 . .
Silver, max . 0.035 0.009 0.001
Copper, max . 0.02 0.005 0.001
Palladium, max . 0.02 0.005 0.001
Iron, max . 0.005 0.002 0.001
Lead, max . 0.005 0.002 0.001
Silicon, max . . 0.005 0.001
Magnesium, max . . 0.003 0.001
Arsenic, max . . 0.003 .
Bismuth, max . . 0.002 0.
...