I can guarantee anyone who is worried about the purity of my silver that it is 999+, my process is constant, quality control practices are always observed and the assay results don't lie.
What does it cost to get an assay? I've got some refining happening that's a slightly different take on the standard and I'm wondering how pure the outcome is. The difference is this: instead of dissolving all of the metal and precipitating out the silver, I have an excess of nitric for the amount of copper/impurities present. The acid dissolves whatever it contacts, but once an equilibrium in solution is reached, everytime it dissolves an additional copper atom, two silver atoms will drop out of solutions [Cu(s) + 2Ag+(aq) --> Cu++(aq) + 2Ag(s)]. Once all of the copper is dissolved, theoretically you have a solution that is mostly copper nitrate with a little silver nitrate and what should be quite pure colloidal silver (traces of copper potentially present but should be VERY minor)
The Crow]What does it cost to get an assay? I've got some refining happening that's a slightly different take on the standard and I'm wondering how pure the outcome is. The difference is this: instead of dissolving all of the metal and precipitating out the silver, I have an excess of nitric for the amount of copper/impurities present. The acid dissolves whatever it contacts, but once an equilibrium in solution is reached, everytime it dissolves an additional copper atom, two silver atoms will drop out of solutions [Cu(s) + 2Ag+(aq) --> Cu++(aq) + 2Ag(s)]. Once all of the copper is dissolved, theoretically you have a solution that is mostly copper nitrate with a little silver nitrate and what should be quite pure colloidal silver (traces of copper potentially present but should be VERY minor) That sounds interesting there is apparently a good market for colloidal silver. Assay from PW Beck cost about $70.00 and its well worth it.
Which I guess also explains why you don't assay every single bar to satisfy the curiosity of certain SS members...
Even if it didnt come up to .999 exactly every time as a buyer I wouldnt worry! close enough good enough for me but I am quite confident that many small hand pour refiners would be striving for the very best silver possible given its a hobby/passion. on-sales are just a bonus to help the hobby move on.
Just a bit excited and wanted you all to know I have just finished making Silverfox Refineries 100th ingot and its a beauty. I will be listing it for auction in sales thread later this evening. It is a 120 gram round and the listing will show all pics.
Silver Fox bar #099 very happy with this bar and after carrying it around for a few days for luck its now on permanent touch display next to my computer alongside ant bullion old skool wood pour bar #5
Maybe sad for me because I only collect at the moment but how is it a sad hobby for those extracting and refining silver into a product they very easily sell because so many like the finished product? I know an ebay seller who will sell you heaps of Pamp silver bars,he has a hobby too :lol: