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Author	Topic: question about silver refining
brittany unregistered	posted 09-26-2004 04:47 PM Hello, I am a university student, and I need help with a research paper. I've heard that in the refining process, the silversmith knows the silver is purified when he/she can see his/her reflection in it. If someone can confirm this, I would be grateful! ========================== IP: Logged
Gareth Harris Posts: 2 Registered: Aug 2004	posted 10-12-2004 04:47 AM There needs to be some clarity here over the meaning of the word 'purified'. When a smelter or silversmith melts lemel,dust,or old silver objects, there comes a moment when the metal becomes molten. At this moment the flux (an agent such as borax used to prevent the metal oxidising) clears on the surface of the meit, and a reflection may be seen,this tells you the metal is ready to pour. To refine the metal,i.e. increase the fineness, which might be what you mean by 'purified' is a different matter. ------------------ Gareth IP: Logged
FredZ Posts: 1070 Registered: Jun 99	posted 10-12-2004 10:08 AM This is the answer I gave at one of the other forums. (Brittany, I suspect you are refering to the Biblical passage from Malachi 3. An ancient method of refining precious metal called cupelation would use fire to remove the base metals in an alloy. The base metal would soaks into the porous bone ash cupel leaving a near pure silver or gold. When the metal is fully molten the surface will become reflective. I suggest reading a 1929 edition of the book 'A MANUAL OF FIRE ASSAYING' Fulton, Charles Herman & William J. Sharwood. N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Book Co. 1929. Cloth. Fair. 3rd Edition. 8vo - over 7¾' - 9¾' tall. xvi 268pp. I suspect you might be able to acquire a copy through an interlibrary loan. You might also research the cupelation of precious metal. Cupelation was a common practice with mining assayers. I hope this is of help.) Brittany it is going to require footwork at the library to get a more indepth answer to your question. The Bible uses many practical examples to clarify it's message. Fred IP: Logged

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