Page 10 - Bullion World Volume 3 Issue 4 April 2023

Bullion World | Volume 3 | Issue 4 | April 2023

as an effective tool to review large Mr Cappellini explained in the
amounts of data generated daily in session that the target is to replace
most laboratories. – wherever possible – melting
operations with mechanical
Delegates’ Choice: Refining processes until the final casting,
The third session of the Conference reducing dramatically the power
was dedicated to refining and consumption and the carbon
was voted the delegates’ favourite footprint for each bar produced,
session. It was moderated by while increasing safety and work
Michael B. Mooiman (Franklin conditions for the operators.
University and Argo Associates),
and papers were presented by Chris In recent years we’ve seen demand
Walne (Pressman Mastermelt), growing for small size cast bars, from
Enrico Cappellini and Giovanni Faoro 1oz up to 15kg. Starting from Good
(IKOI S.p.A), Simone Frigerio and Delivery bars, traditional technology
Stefano Ghiringhelli (Argor-Heraeus), requires a metallurgic transformation
Elton Cupido (Rand Refinery PTY from bars into grain, that is the
Ltd), and Giovanni Calabria (MKS starting material for the final product.
Mr Jonathan Jodry PAMP SA). Otherwise, the proposed process
is based on a combination of
Reclamation technologies: the first one to shred
His top ranked presentation gave Chris Walne’s presentation provided Good Delivery bars into shavings
examples with data that were used the audience with an expert insight (instead of melting and casting)
to ensure methods were measuring into precious metals reclamation, that are fed into a compacting
what was intended with the required and how to maximise the monetary density booster machine, in order
accuracy, precision, and other vital value of the waste material that to create a product comparable to
analytical parameters. processes generate if you are in the traditional grain which can be
the business of producing or using directly melted into bars from 1 oz
Dr Jodry took delegates through precious metals. In this session, up to 15 kg. The paper focused on
when and how to validate, and Mr Walne discussed the sources silver processing, presenting the
what criteria to define before any of sample types and the sampling technology, describing the process
validation takes place to ensure methods employed to attain a used and sharing data from field test
useful results. Delegates were homogenous test sample – and the done by Argor-Heraeus to compare
furnished with a framework designed assaying methods by which differing energy consumption, carbon
to ensure laboratories are compliant materials are analysed once they footprint reduction and safety-related
with quality standards like ISO have been pre-treated. Mr Walne considerations.
17025, and also to minimise the pressed that test accuracy is crucial
risk of errors which could negatively given the sample type, and the small The Importance of Sampling
impact both the reputation and profit margins, so producing the Accuracy
the finances of their company. The best results is important to enable Elton Cupido’s paper, Monitoring
framework is compiled from different reaching a settlement figure. Percentage Sampling Variance for
recognised standards, national Improvement Purposes, examined
guidelines, and best practices Foundry Operations Revolution how overstating or understating
recommendations, and adapted for Silver precious metal content in the input,
for our industry. It comprises of The paper prepared by Enrico outputs or work in progress exposes
seven tests – for identification, Cappellini, Giovanni Faoro, the company to financial risk. It
working range, precision, accuracy, Simone Frigerio and Stefano explored how important an accurate
uncertainty, stability, and robustness Ghiringhelli, entitled Replacing metal accounting balance is to a
– and practical examples were given Melting Processes with Mechanical refinery, and how sampling variances
in the session. Operations for Producing Silver are more significant in comparison to
Bars: A Lower Energy and Safer mass and analytical variances.
The use of data and statistics was Alternative, presented the results of
also a theme for a contribution from a revolutionary new way to handle ESG Challenges and Examples
Madeleine Theron (Rand Refinery) foundry operations starting from The final presentation in the third
later in the Conference, who large bars to produce small bars session was by Giovanni Calabria,
discussed the use of data analytics (from 1 oz up to 15 kg). on his paper ESG in a Precious

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