Welcome to the Sipi Metals Laboratory

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Welcome to the Sipi Metals Laboratory

• There are several main sections of the lab
• Fire Assay
• Balance Area
• Wet Lab
• ICP Lab
• Optical Emissions
• Metallurgical Lab
• Quality Control Data

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Fire Assay

• Most of our samples undergo two processes
• Fusion The sample is fused with a lead flux and
  the nonmetal impurities are separated from the
  metal into the slag. The metallic part of the
  sample is left in the lead button that is formed
  in the fusion.
• Cupellation The lead buttons are heated and
  lead along with any metallic impurities are
  absorbed into a porous cupel. With the
  impurities separated, what is left on top of the
  cupel is a bead that is composed of precious
  metals.

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Samples are loaded into the furnace for fusion.
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After fusion, the molten sample is poured into a
mold to cool.
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Now the slag is broken apart and the lead button
is shaped.
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After cupellation, precious metal beads are ready
to be weighed.
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Balance Area

• This is where we weigh samples before they go
  through the fire assay process.
• After fusion and cupellation a bead of precious
  metal forms and we determine the mass of those
  beads here.

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Wet Lab

• In the wet lab area, dissolution of samples takes
  place.
• Here we dissolve precious metal beads and prepare
  the samples for analysis.
• We also perform gravimetric analysis, titrations,
  and small scale fusions.

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Samples are being prepared for analysis.
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Inductively Coupled Plasma

• The Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) Emission
  Spectrometer can analyze the amount of several
  elements in a sample simultaneously.
• With optical emission spectrometry, we energize
  the sample and it goes into an excited state.
  When the sample relaxes, it will release or emit
  energy in the form of light. Each element gives
  off a different wavelength of light.
• ICP has good sensitivity, reproducibility, and
  linearity.
• ICP is almost free from matrix effects.

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ICP Analysis

• Our newest ICP, the Varian VistaPro, is our most
  precise instrument, has an axial torch which
  enables it to be very sensitive, and advances in
  technology enhance our reproducibility. An
  auto-sampler is attached to increase efficiency.
  This ICP is used to determine the amount of
  precious metals in a sample.
• The Varian Liberty has a radial torch and is used
  primarily for brass alloy analysis.
• The Spectro Ciros also has an axial torch and an
  auto-sampler. It is used to determine the amount
  of base metals in a sample.

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Optical Emission

• The Spark Emission Spectrometer allows us to
  analyze solid samples. This piece of equipment
  has the capability to analyze multiple elements
  simultaneously at various levels of
  concentration.
• The Spark Spectrometer runs at a high temperature
  (greater than 3600oF).
• It has reasonable sensitivity and good
  reproducibility.

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Metallurgical Lab

• The Atomic Absorption Spectrometer is kept in
  this area along with other equipment.
• Here we can analyze the moisture content of a
  sample.
• We are also able to test the hardness and examine
  the grain structure of a sample.

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Atomic Absorption

• The Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AA) is used
  to determine the amount of gold, platinum, and
  palladium in a sample.
• Atomic absorption measures the amount of energy
  that a sample absorbs. This amount of energy
  absorbed is proportional to the amount of element
  being tested.

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Samples are being analyzed on the Atomic
Absorption Spectrometer.
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Quality Control

• Two types of daily control samples are processed
  for gold, palladium, platinum and silver
  analysis.
• Quality Control Samples
• Blind Duplicate Samples
• Results are monitored to ensure they are within
  the control limits.

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• Thank you for visiting the Sipi Metals
  Laboratory, please enjoy the rest of your tour.