Silver Analysis – Use A Handheld XRF Analyzer!
Posted By mtc on May 21, 2013
Minerals are available in many different forms and Silver is no exception. Sometimes you can find pure silver in the field and sometimes you find it in an amalgamated formation with other minerals. The object of silver refining is to separate out all of the impurities to make the purest form of the element.
For example, the purest Silver that is generally used in jewelry making due to the soft nature of the material is 98%. It actually requires the addition of a stronger element such as copper to become firm enough for use in jewelry. Silver is considered pure at 92.5%. In nature, 99% fine silver can be found but it is too soft to work with without adding copper or some other alloying element. A handheld XRF can identify between these grades of silver in a matter of seconds.
When you are conducting silver analysis the X-Ray Fluorescence analyzer will release strong gamma rays on the silver sample to force it to release secondary rays. These secondary x-rays are qualified and quantified revealing the purity of the material you are analyzing. There is no preparation of the sample; you will not have to spend lots of time doing the analysis as it takes only a few seconds. Handheld XRF guns have been tested for over a decade and are believed to be extremely reliable with complete accuracy. All you need to do is to point the head of the handheld XRF gun on silver, pull the trigger and results will be in your hand. It is extremely easy to use.
Silver analysis with a handheld XRF gun will save your business from losing precious dollars by paying too much for silver that is not the purity it is claimed to be or stopping you from selling a piece that is actually worth more than you realize. Mexican silver can be as pure as 99%. You don’t want to miss out on that extra percentage. With a handheld xrf gun, you will always know the purity down to less than .5%.