Our Refining
Gold Refining Process
Ensuring precious metals are refined by a reputable and accredited refinery can make all the difference for the producer and their business goals.
A refinery typically processes raw materials, such as gold nuggets or doré, supplied by mining companies. The material is heated until it becomes molten, and chlorine gas is introduced to separate gold from other metal impurities. After this separation, the gold undergoes testing, known as assaying, to determine its purity before being cast into bars.
At The Rufunsa Gold Mining in Zambia, we follow a detailed step-by-step process to ensure our partners receive gold of the highest quality and purity. This comprehensive guide outlines exactly how we achieve these exceptional standards.
1. Doré Melting
The assay process begins in the Melt House, where raw gold deposits are melted and electromagnetically stirred to ensure uniformity. During this stage, immersion dip sampling is conducted to collect representative samples of the mixed metal for further analysis.
2. Sampling
Five samples are collected, with three sent to the laboratory for testing, while the remaining two are reserved for independent customer and umpire analysis.
3. Assaying
Our state-of-the-art precious metals assay laboratory, one of the most advanced and well-equipped in the southern hemisphere, is staffed by a highly skilled team of chemists and technicians. Together, they bring over 20 years of combined experience in precious metals analysis.
Our bullion analysis employs ultra-precise microbalances capable of measuring weights to within one-millionth of a gram. Our newest balance offers even greater precision, reading up to ten-millionths of a gram. This meticulous process demands exceptional skill, technical expertise, and accuracy.
In this part of the process there are two further steps:
- XRF screening takes place to determine the gold, silver and base metals.
- Once complete, fire assay is used to separate the base metals from the precious metals. This dual stream analysis is conducted by two separate analysts to ensure the final results provide the greatest accuracy possible and confirm we have obtained a truly representative sample of the melt.
Our assaying is so accurate that our gold analysis has been tested to be within 0.001 per cent for gold by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) – the global gold industry’s premier regulatory body.
It’s this level of accuracy, and uncompromising attention to detail, that producers need most. Ultimately, it’s this that gives you your greatest return.
Copyright by Rufunsa Gold Refinery. All Rights Reserved