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Precious metals

Precious metals

We provide accurate and independent global Inspection & Analysis for all precious metal bearing materials. Our expertise is leveraged to inspect, weigh, sample, analyse and report on the quantity and quality of commodities to produce findings that can be used for final commercial settlement purposes. Our services for precious metals are regularly used by a variety of clients in the mining, chemical, oil, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, electronic, jewelry, financial and governmental sectors.

The ALS difference

Our coverage includes all processing stages including drying, incineration, crushing, milling, blending, screen grading, moisture determination, loss on ignition (LOI), leaching, chemical treatment, melting, matting, sawing, drilling and alloying, weighing, and stock verification. All our sampling and sample preparation operations are undertaken while we maintain a strong focus on implementing international standards globally. We are an active associate member of many prestigious trade organizations including the LBMA (London Bullion Market Association), LPPM (London Platinum and Palladium Market) and the IPMI (International Precious Metals Institute).

Our network provides coverage at all major precious metal and PGM refineries and production facilities around the world, many with dedicated permanent representatives.

Precious Metals

Our diverse and bespoke portfolio of services brings reliability, independence and integrity to global precious metal’s markets. Our analytical services facility in the UK is the flagship/hub laboratory of our Assay & Inspection services business and one of the leading laboratories of its type in the world. The core expertise of our UK laboratory for over 40 years has been precious metal analysis; we receive and test over 10,000 precious metal bearing samples every year for various payable and penalty elements.

Internationally accredited ALS laboratories combine classical wet chemistry with precision analytical technology to obtain accurate percentage composition determinations to minimise risk and reduce financial exposure.

Analytical techniques include:
  • Fire assay
  • Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry: ICP-AES and ICP-MS
  • Gravimetric
  • Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS)
  • Potentiometric Titration

Our highly experienced inspectors and analytical technicians frequently conduct operations which involve:

  • Precious metals
  • Sweeps
  • Concentrates
  • Slimes
  • Electronic scrap
  • Chemical conductor pastes
  • Bullion
  • Dore
  • Jewellery
  • Platinum group metals (PGM's)
  • Resins
  • Precious metal bearing catalysts
  • Fresh and spent catalysts
  • Automobile catalysts
  • Platforming catalysts
  • Hydrogeneration catalysts
  • Mono and bi-metallic catalysts
  • Isomerisation catalysts
  • Reforming catalysts
  • Ethylene oxide silver catalysts
  • VAM catalysts
  • Nitric acid plant gauzes

Vault Audits & Inventory Verification

ALS regularly conducts inventory verification audits for a wide variety of clients, from private investors to financial institutions to provide assurance and peace of mind that material is present and in the correct form. Experienced ALS surveyors can provide details of weight verification, bar numbers and refiner stamp/origin confirmation.

ALS can also audit the vault or storage facility for due diligence or insurance purposes.

LBMA, LPPM, DMCC & CME/COMEX monitoring & accreditation

ALS is an associate member of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) and the London Platinum & Palladium Market Association (LPPM), and so can be appointed to witness dip-sampling for both the LBMA’s and LPPM’s Proactive Monitoring (PAM) Programme.The LBMA & LPPM’s Proactive Monitoring Program reviews the assaying competence of Good Delivery refiners on a three-yearly basis, and checks that refiners continue to meet the requirements for refined production and tangible net worth on an annual basis.

Good Delivery refiners receive notice from the LBMA & LPPM three years after original listing, instructing the refiner to participate in the PAM programme. ALS representatives can attend the named refinery and supervise and report all aspects necessary to comply with the requirements of the program. ALS can also provide bespoke supervision and analytical services to refiners who are accredited by the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).

Added value:
  • Experienced auditors
  • ISO 17025 accredited laboratory
  • Associate members of the following organisations: LBMA, LPPM, IPMI (Logos to be provided)
Do you have an upcoming project you would like to discuss?

Shipwrecks & Archaeological Finds

We have provided our experience and expertise to numerous companies, governmental departments and private enthusiasts involved in large scale shipwrecks and archaeological reclamation projects involving precious metal materials.

We can provide the following services:

  • Inspection/supervision/witnessing of on-land discharge operations
  • Audit and catalogue precious metal items/treasures

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