The cupels were made by a cupel making machine that had been transferred from the Ballarat School of Mines to the Ballarat Institute of Technology in 1970. It is possibly the same machine used by the first students at the Ballarat School of Mines in 1870. Small containers with curved inner shape. .1) Roasting dish or scorifier - shallow curved cup of clay. .2 & .3) Cupels of cylindrical shape with shallow hemispherical top surface. ballarat school of mines, cupel, assay, kiln, university of ballarat, mt helen, clay, ceramics

Assay is a process of metallurgy and chemical analysis used to determine proportions of precious metals in ores and other metallurgy substances such as silver or gold. The process helps identify pollutants present within a sample and can indicate a high level of pollution in a mining site. Stoneware crucibles are used in the fire assay process due to their ability to withstand high temperatures. Fire assay is a three step process where by samples from the mine are ground in a find powder and then mixed with dry powder chemicals. This mixture is heated in a crucible to extreme temperatures (crucible fusion) until all of the powers fuse into a glass like slag. Once this reaction is complete, the contents are poured into a mold and cooled. In step three (known as cupellation) the mixture is separated in a fire assay cupel and once this is complete the cupel with reveal a small bead of precious metals. Established by George Guthrie in 1857 (about 5km north of its current site) and then again seven years later in 1864 after it initially closed, Bendigo Pottery remains one of the most influential and longest running potteries in Australia. Over the years the Pottery has contributed to the growth and development of the district through both its products including building products, table ware and decorative and commemorative war as well as artistically, being responsible for training and supporting many potters locally. It has partnered with the City on various tourism promotions and the Civic Collection holds a number of important items within its collection.Two stoneware vessels of differing dimensions (0287.1 & .2). Unglazed and porous, showing extensive signs of use. Stamped and marked on the outside. 0287.2 has a shaped pouring lip. Six smaller items, coins, buttons (0287.3,.4,.5,.6,.7,.8) were found with the crucibles but their relationship to the assay items is unknown.0287.1; Large crucible; Bendigo Pottery / E. 0287.2; Small crucible: Pottery / C Icity of greater bendigo commerce, city of greater bendigo mining, making a nation exhibition

The Archbold (Chewton) Gold Treatment Works was erected c.1884 by Jeremiah Archbold who operated an assay and metallurgical business specialising in the treatment of gold-bearing ore. The battery, furnaces and Chilean mills which survive on the site suggest that the chlorination process was used to assay pyritic ore. The works subsequently incorporated the cyanide process after its introduction to Victoria in the late 1890s. Upon Jeremiah's death in 1917, the works continued to be run by one of his sons, Herbert. Herbert Archbold went on to become widely known throughout Victoria for his cyaniding expertise. Herbert died in 1966 and the property was bought by his son Harry. When Harry Archbold died in the late 1980s the treatment works was closed and everything left as it was. https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/7899/download-reportNineteen page document. On front page: ' Mount Alexander Diggings, Archbold's Gold Treatment Works, Tour Guiding Notes, prepared by Robert J. Kaufman, Prepared for the Mount Alexander Shire Council, 2002. The processes used in the treatment plant are described, including: fire assays, crushing, retorting and smelting, refining, grinding, chlorination, and cyanidation. The Archbold family history and an overview of the gold treatment works overall, is presented in the report. Black and white photographs and diagrams of various artefacts and processes are included. Advice on commentary from each viewpoint on the tour, is provided for tour guides. fire assays, crushing, retorting and smelting, refining, grinding, chlorination, and cyanidation., mount alexander, archbold, gold refining, cupels, crucible, berlin porcelain parting cups, assay laboratory

M. Eissler A.I.M.E. was a member of the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.Red Hardcovered book of 678 pages with around 250 illustrations and numerous folding plates. Contents include: gold mining in California, Gold as a metal; Hydraulic Process; treatment of Gold bearing Ores; Crushing and Amalgamation (Queensland, California); Mills; Buddle; concentrator; Roasting ores; Roasting Pyritic Ores; Hydro-Metallurgy; Chlorination; Electro-Metallurgy; Cyanide; Erection of a Cyanide Plant; Chemistry of the Cyanide Process; Spelting, CupulationCrushing ore; 160 stamp battery; Mill site and battery; causes of failure in gold mining, South African Gold Fields; Gold in Australia (pg 589) Advertisements include: Fraser & Chalmers; Bowes scott & Western Ltd; Fried. Krupp Grusonwerk; Stanley; Humbolt Engineering Works Co., Townson & Mercer.gold, mining, metallurgy, pyrites, cupel, brook, rand, california, america, gold mining