Knowledge Centre
Gold Testing, Buying & Trade Insights
Practical guidance on gold testing, purity, buying, sourcing and precious-metal transactions.
Recommended starting point
How Gold Assaying Works
A client-focused guide to sampling, Fire Assay, XRF Analysis, laboratory controls, and the report you receive at the end.
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Explore by Topic
Gold Testing & Assaying
Testing Methods
Gold Purity & Buying
Responsible Sourcing
Trade & Compliance
Glossary & Resources
Pillar guides
Featured Guides
Every guide combines practical advice, limitations, frequently asked questions and supporting resources to help you understand the topic before making important decisions.
Gold Assaying
How Gold Assaying Works
A client-focused guide to sampling, Fire Assay, XRF Analysis, laboratory controls, and the report you receive at the end.
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Testing Methods
Fire Assay vs XRF Testing
Compare accuracy, speed, sample damage, surface limitations, and the situations where each method gives the most useful answer.
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Gold Purity
Understanding Gold Purity Standards
Understand fineness, karat, 9999, 999, 995, hallmarks, bullion specifications, and how laboratories report gold content.
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Gold Buying
How to Verify Gold Before Buying
A practical due-diligence path covering seller records, independent testing, chain of custody, payment risk, and common warning signs.
Read pillar guideResponsible Sourcing
Responsible Gold Sourcing
A practical guide to supplier checks, traceability, OECD due diligence, conflict risk, AML, and responsible purchasing decisions.
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Import Compliance
Gold Import Compliance
A practical overview of importer responsibilities, customs, KYC, AML, sanctions, source records, and laboratory verification.
Read pillar guideGold Export
East Africa Gold Export Documentation
Understand export permits, invoices, certificates of origin, assay reports, customs records, and buyer review before shipment.
Read pillar guideLaboratory Verification
Independent Laboratory Testing
Why independence, secure sample handling, method selection, quality control, and clear reporting matter in precious-metals decisions.
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Trade Support
Precious-Metals Trade and Export Support: What Happens Between Testing and Shipment
A practical guide to precious-metals trade coordination, assay records, transaction documents, shipment preparation and the parties' responsibilities.
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Glossary
Precious Metals Industry Glossary
Plain-language definitions for assaying, bullion, doré, cupellation, fineness, karat, LBMA, traceability, refining, XRF, ICP, and related terms.
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Focused resources
Focused Answers to Common Questions
Every resource listed below is available to read now.
9 focused resources
Laboratory Resources
Learn how laboratory testing works, how results are interpreted and why different testing methods are used in different situations.
Resource · 13 min read
What Is a Gold Assay Test and What Do the Results Mean?
Understand what an assay measures, how Fire Assay and XRF differ, how purity is reported, and why laboratory independence matters.
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Resource · 15 min read
Gold Testing Methods: Which One Is Right for You?
Compare visual checks, magnets, hallmarks, density, acid testing, electronic tools, ultrasound, XRF, and Fire Assay by purpose and limitation.
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Resource · 11 min read
Cupellation Method for Raw Gold Evaluation: A Complete Guide
How representative sampling, fusion, cupellation, parting, weighing, quality control, and lead safety shape a raw-gold result.
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Resource · 10 min read
Questions to Ask a Gold Testing Lab Before Submitting Samples
What to ask about independence, method scope, sample preparation, custody, quality control, reporting, timing, fees, and confidentiality.
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Resource · 11 min read
Assay Lab Credibility Indicators Every International Gold Buyer Needs
How to evaluate identity, independence, personnel, method scope, custody, quality control, report clarity, security, and verifiability.
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Resource · 12 min read
Cupellation Accuracy in Fire Assay: What Affects Your Gold Results?
How sampling, inquartation, temperature, cupel condition, oxidation, parting, weighing, quality control, and calculation influence a result.
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Resource · 14 min read
Precious Metal Analysis: Methods, Accuracy, and What to Expect
A method-selection guide covering analytical question, sample form, Fire Assay, XRF, instrumental techniques, reporting, and uncertainty.
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Resource · 11 min read
How Refiners Use Assay Certificates to Confirm Gold Composition
How refiners review supplier data, lot identity, sampling, incoming tests, composition, payable terms, reconciliation, and final settlement.
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Resource · 12 min read
Why Independent Assay Lab Results Are More Credible
Why impartiality, controlled sampling, documented methods, quality checks, and transparent reporting matter when parties have competing interests.
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Gold Selling & Buyer Verification
Resource · 5 min read
How to Sell Gold in Kenya: Prepare a Verifiable Selling Proposal
Prepare a gold sale in Kenya with clear material details, seller authority, testing arrangements and verifiable commercial terms.
Read articleResource · 5 min read
How to Verify a Gold Buyer Before Agreeing to a Sale
Check a proposed gold buyer's identity, commercial terms, inspection process and payment safeguards before agreeing to a sale.
Read articleResource · 5 min read
Preparing Gold for Independent Testing Before a Sale
Understand sample identification, representative sampling and testing decisions when preparing physical gold for sale.
Read articleResource · 5 min read
Understanding Gold Sale Offers, Assay-Based Pricing and Payment Terms
Compare physical-gold sale offers using agreed weights, assay results, deductions, settlement conditions and custody arrangements.
Read article11 focused resources
Buyer Resources
Learn how to verify sellers and material, recognise common warning signs, interpret pricing evidence and approach gold purchases with stronger due diligence.
Resource · 10 min read
How to Test Gold Doré Before Purchase or Refining
A material-specific guide to doré composition, representative sampling, XRF screening, Fire Assay, and independent verification before purchase or refinery intake.
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Resource · 5 min read
How to Find and Check Gold Sellers in East Africa
Learn how buyers can check seller identity, gold inspection arrangements, mineral permissions and transaction terms before pursuing East African gold opportunities.
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Resource · 12 min read
Red Flags to Watch When Buying Raw Gold in East Africa
A buyer checklist for pricing pressure, seller identity, document consistency, material verification, payment controls, and export records.
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Resource · 5 min read
How to Use an Assay Report When Negotiating a Gold Price
Learn how assay results, verified weights, payable gold and agreed deductions affect physical-gold pricing and settlement discussions.
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Resource · 11 min read
How Professional Gold Buyers Use Assay Labs to Prevent Fraud
How controlled sampling, staged testing, custody, report verification, payment conditions, and retained evidence reduce transaction risk.
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Resource · 11 min read
Due Diligence Checklist for Buying Gold in Sub-Saharan Africa
A structured checklist covering buyer purpose, seller authority, source, material, documents, payment, logistics, compliance, and stop conditions.
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Resource · 10 min read
24 Karat vs 999 Fine Gold: What's the Real Difference?
How the 24-part karat system relates to parts-per-thousand fineness, and why nominal labels still require a measured basis.
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Resource · 11 min read
Karat vs Fineness: What's the Difference in Gold Purity?
A plain-language conversion guide for karat, fineness, percentage, nominal grades, rounding, and assay reporting.
Read articleResource · 5 min read
Buying Gold in Kenya: A Buyer's Verification Checklist
A buyer's practical checklist for reviewing gold sellers, assay evidence, transaction roles and export considerations in Kenya.
Read articleResource · 5 min read
Buying Gold in Tanzania: Questions to Resolve Before Purchase
Review gold-buying opportunities in Tanzania with clear seller authority, testing expectations, documentation and transaction safeguards.
Read articleResource · 5 min read
Buying East African Gold for the UAE, Europe or Asia: What Changes at Destination?
Understand origin and destination checks when purchasing East African gold for the UAE, individual European countries or Asian markets.
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Export Resources
Understand the documents, licences and compliance questions that can affect precious-metals exports and international transactions.
Resource · 5 min read
Gold Export Licensing in Africa: Start With the Country and the Consignment
Compare the roles of mineral dealer authorisations, export permits and consignment documentation when arranging gold exports from African countries.
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Resource · 12 min read
AML Compliance for US Gold Importers From Africa
A risk-based overview of customer due diligence, beneficial ownership, source of funds, transaction monitoring, sanctions, records, and import declarations.
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Resource · 13 min read
Tanzania Mineral Export: Rules, Permits, and Compliance Guide
A practical framework for confirming exporter eligibility, permit type, valuation, royalties, inspection, customs information, and destination documents.
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Resource · 5 min read
Gold Trade Documents: What Buyers and Sellers Should Check
Understand the documents used in physical-gold transactions, from ownership and assay records to contracts, shipment papers and payment conditions.
Read articleResource · 5 min read
Exporting Gold From Kenya: A Document and Responsibility Checklist
A practical guide to preparing a Kenya gold export file, including exporter authority, assay references and shipment documentation.
Read articleResource · 5 min read
Exporting Gold From Tanzania: Preparing a Consignment File
Prepare a Tanzania gold export consignment file with exporter eligibility, mineral permits, lot records and commercial documentation.
Read article4 focused resources
Responsible Sourcing
Explore practical guidance on due diligence, conflict-aware sourcing, ESG review and responsible engagement with artisanal gold supply chains.
Resource · 11 min read
Conflict-Free Gold Sourcing: What Buyers Need to Know
How buyers can use risk-based due diligence to examine source, route, counterparties, human-rights concerns, payments, and supplier controls.
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Resource · 12 min read
OECD Due Diligence for African Gold Supply Chains Explained
A practical explanation of the OECD five-step framework, red flags, supplier engagement, risk mitigation, audits, and reporting.
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Resource · 11 min read
How ESG Officers Verify Responsible African Gold Sourcing
How ESG teams connect environmental, social, governance, traceability, supplier, grievance, and performance evidence.
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Resource · 11 min read
Artisanal Gold Mining in Africa: Challenges, Scale, and Solutions
A balanced view of livelihoods, informality, mercury, safety, environment, market access, formalisation, and responsible buyer engagement.
Read articleUse Guidance to Ask Better Questions
Learning helps you ask better questions and understand the decisions ahead.
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