Transportable, self-contained assay facility and method of using same to procure and assay precious metals

摘要

A transportable, self-contained assay facility built in a modified standard shipping container that is completely equipped to melt and assay precious metals, particularly gold and silver. An induction furnace melts the metal that is then poured into an ingot. The ingot is weighed and analyzed using an XRF alloy analyzer and the percentage of gold and/or other metals recorded. The value of the gold at current market prices is calculated and the assay and the value of the ingot is printed and given to the seller. The seller may opt to receive the ingot and pay the assayer an assay fee. Alternately, the seller may ask to be paid in cash, by bullion, wire transfer, or by an open hedge. A transfer or hedge is initiated and confirmed from the assay facility. The ingots may be securely stored in a safe within the assay facility.

主权项

1. A transportable, self-contained assay facility, comprising:
a) a closed, sealable, shippable container suitable for containing all tools and equipment required to melt/smelt and assay precious metals, said container being adapted to allow a seller of precious metals to observe the melting and assaying processes; b) a scale disposed within said container and positioned within view of said seller, said scale being adapted to output a signal representative of a weight of an object weighed thereupon; c) a furnace disposed in said container adapted to melt/smelt precious metal received from said seller, said furnace disposed within view of said seller and adapted to melt said precious metal to produce an ingot; d) an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) alloy analyzer disposed in said vehicle within view of said seller and adapted to analyze said melted ingot and to record and display the results of an analysis thereof; e) means for determining a current market price of at least one precious metal present in said ingot, said means for determining being disposed proximate said container; f) a computer disposed within said container and adapted to receive at least said signal representative of a weight of an object weighed received from said scale, an output recorded by said XRF analyzer, said determined current market price of said particular precious metal of interest and adapted to perform at least a calculation of the market value of said precious metal component of said ingot; and g) a printer disposed within said container and operatively connected to said computer and adapted to print at least the result of said calculation.