Upon replacing dental gold for their patients, many dental offices throw the scraps into the trash. Others, who don’t completely understand the value of these scraps, may sell to any buyer who knocks on their door. This practice denies them an opportunity to get a worthwhile deal from their precious materials.
When you want a better deal, consider a buyer who practices gold refining. These buyers will refine your dental gold and offer the actual price depending on their value. However, the refining process is complex and takes time, which many dental professionals do not like. You, too, might be willing to deal with a gold refinery but aren’t sure what the refining process entails. This article explains that process.
Melting and Purification
The first step in the refining process is melting and purification. This involves the liquidation of the precious materials and removing any impurities. The refiner will use extremely high temperatures to convert the gold scraps into molten metals.
When the melting is complete, the refiner then takes the molten metal through a chemical treatment process to separate gold and non-gold elements. This also helps to remove other impurities and ensure only the pure gold remains.
Assaying
The refiners’ goal is to ensure they are buying pure gold. To establish this aspect, they take it through the assaying process. It involves taking a sample of the gold content and analyzing it. The refinery can use fire assay, spectrometry, or XRF (X-ray fluorescence). The process offers results on your gold’s purity level, which is crucial in determining its value.
Solidifying and Weighing
Once the refiner confirms that your gold is pure, they will solidify the molten metal. It is placed in a cool place to solidify. It can also be shaped into gold bars or other forms. They will weigh it upon achieving the desired shape to help set an appropriate price.
Payment Processing
When the refiner determines the weight and purity of your gold, they will offer a price to you. The price will depend on the estimated value and prevailing rates for the same gold quality. When you accept their offer, they will begin the payment processing. Some offer cash payment, while others opt for bank transfers. Always consider a payment option that is best for your needs.
Now you understand what gold refining entails. The process will help you get a return worth the value of your dental gold materials. If you are struggling to get a gold refiner, speak to Bay Area Metals today for more information.