Assaying the gold content at Kettle River-Buckhorn: to determine ore’s gold content, lead oxide and sodium carbonate flux are combined with powdered ore and heated to 1,000 degrees Celsius in the crucible. Next, the lead will be re-melted and removed in the cupellation process and the remaining gold button is weighed to determine the ore’s value.
Photo by Ryan Swank, Assay Technician, Kettle River-Buckhorn
