Glossary of Mining Terms

 

    
   

Smelting


The process of melting ore or concentrates to separate out gold, or other metals, from impurities.

In most gold mines, smelting is the final stage of recovering gold from an ore, thus obtaining a bar
that is upwards of 850 fine, which can be sent to a refinery for purifying up to 995 or 999.9 fineness.

Copper smelters also produce by-product gold, which then goes for refining.

The terms 'smelting' and 'refining' sometimes overlap.  Whereas smelting is the separation of gold from non-metallic impurities, refining is the separating and purifying of gold from other metals.

 

  
   
   

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