ASTM E2295-21 PDF

Full title and description

Standard Practice for Fire Assay Silver Corrections in Analysis of Metal Bearing Ores, Concentrates, and Related Metallurgical Materials by Silver Determination in Slags and Cupels — designation E2295−21. This practice provides procedures for recovering and determining silver in the spent slags and cupels from fire assay operations to calculate correction values applied to primary fire-assay silver determinations.

Abstract

Provides a concise practice for determining silver corrections from fire-assay wastes (slags and cupels) using gravimetric and instrumental techniques (including atomic absorption), with guidance on sample collection, pretreatment, analysis, calculation of correction factors, and safety considerations for reagents and laboratory operations. The procedure is intended to improve accuracy of fire-assay silver determinations in ores, concentrates and related metallurgical materials.

General information

• Status: Active / Current (E2295-21).
• Publication date: 2021 (current edition approved Nov 15, 2021; published December 2021).
• Publisher: ASTM International.
• ICS / categories: 73.060.01 (Analytical chemistry for metals, ores and related materials).
• Edition / version: E2295−21 (2021).
• Number of pages: 3–4 pages (published as a short practice; most catalogue records list 4 pages).

Scope

This practice covers determination of silver corrections for fire assay of metal-bearing ores, concentrates and related metallurgical materials by analysis of the spent slags and cupels generated in the fire-assay process. Methods described include gravimetric recovery and instrumental determination (for example atomic absorption) of silver from collected slags and cupels, and the calculation and application of correction values to routine fire-assay results. It also references relevant apparatus, reagent specifications, and safety precautions.

Key topics and requirements

• Collection, labeling and representativeness of spent slags and cupels from fire-assay runs.
• Sample pretreatment and dissolution procedures suitable for silver recovery.
• Gravimetric silver determination procedures and recommended instrumental methods (e.g., atomic absorption) for quantitation.
• Calculation of silver correction factors and application to fire-assay results.
• Quality control, precision/accuracy considerations and reporting requirements.
• Apparatus, reagent specifications (including reagent water), and laboratory safety precautions for handling strong acids and oxidizers.

Typical use and users

Used by assayers, analytical chemists, metallurgical laboratories, mining and concentrator quality-control teams, and contract testing laboratories that perform fire assay on ores and concentrates and need to correct silver values for losses or gains captured in slags and cupels. The practice is applied when improved accuracy of silver assay results is required for reporting, billing, or metallurgical accounting.

Related standards

References and provides cross-links to other ASTM practices and specifications relevant to analytical chemistry and fire assay workflows such as practices for reagent water and significant-figures guidance; historical and related references include earlier editions of E2295 and associated ASTM standards cited in the practice (for example D1193 for reagent water and general E-series analytical practices).

Keywords

fire assay, silver corrections, slags, cupels, gravimetric determination, atomic absorption, ores, concentrates, metallurgical materials, assay corrections, ASTM E2295-21.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM E2295-21 is a standard practice that describes methods for determining silver in the spent slags and cupels from fire-assay operations and for calculating correction values to be applied to fire-assay silver determinations.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers sample collection, pretreatment, analytical determination of silver (gravimetric and instrumental techniques such as atomic absorption), calculation and application of silver correction factors, and related quality and safety considerations.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Assayers, metallurgical laboratories, mining companies, quality-control analysts, and contract testing labs involved in fire-assay workflows and precious-metal accounting use this practice to improve accuracy of reported silver values.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The E2295−21 edition (approved in 2021) is the current published edition; it supersedes earlier editions (for example the 2013 edition).

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of the ASTM collection of analytical chemistry practices for metals, ores and related materials (E committee practices) and is commonly published within ASTM volumes covering analytical methods for metals and ores.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: fire assay; silver; correction; slags; cupels; gravimetry; atomic absorption; ores; concentrates; metallurgical materials; assay quality control.