Assayer

=Assayer = By: Jeremy Hesidenz

**1. Job Description:** An Assayer tests ores and minerals and analyzes results to determine value and properties of components, using spectrographic analysis, chemical solutions, and chemical or laboratory equipment, such as furnaces, beakers, graduates, pipettes, and crucibles: Separates metals or other components from dross materials by solution, flotation, or other liquid processes, or by dry methods, such as application of heat to form slags of lead, borax, and other impurities. Weighs residues on balance scale to determine proportion of pure gold, silver, platinum, or other metals or components. May specialize in testing and analyzing precious metals and be designated Gold-And-Silver Assayer (profess. & kin.).


 * 2. Personality Characters: ** What kind of personality do I need? Assayers and samplers must be in possession of a medical certificate of fitness. Samplers must have an interest in geology, since they must be able to do different rock surveys. Other qualities are precision, the ability to work systematically and the ability to maintain good interpersonal relations.


 * 3. Working Conditions: ** Workplaces can vary from Lab rooms to any outside conditions where mining is taking place.The Assayer would need to obtain samples from the mine, either self obtained samples or obtaining them from delivery. Health dangers are at a low risk, mines, however can be a dangerous place if the proper percautions are not taken. Most complaints would be due to the need to obtain the ore and sitting in a room analyzing ore for a long period of time.


 * 4. Places of Employment: ** Assayers are hired by different mining companies to analyize the ore in which they are mining. Some specialized Assayers create their own business and service to assay ore. Jobs like this are more numerously found where there are large amounts of mining facilities. Locally, this job could be found in some of the mining facilities in Pennsylvania in and around Philadelphia.


 * 5. Job Outlook: ** Mining for ore and minerals is a rapidly growing industry due to the high demands for gold and silver (mainly in jewelry). Assayers are greatly needed and can't be replaced by a machine. The job outlook for the Assaying position is increasingly good because of the relationship between the mining and assaying industry.


 * 6. Salary Information: ** The salaries of an Assayer differ from state to state. Mostly because of the mining abilities of each state and the types of metals and minerals found in those locations. Normal average salaries of Assayers can be any where from $42,000 to $55,000 per year. Locally, the average salary in Pennsylvania is around $48,000 a year.

Students can also opt to take any part of the training for the purpose of job upgrading, information only, or as a "refresher". The complete training involves 1.5 - 2 years of combined classroom work and lab practicums. Lab practicums (considered an essential component of this training) help students gain maximum benefit from classroom work; it also helps students develop speed and accuracy in analytical work. Enrolment in each course is limited to 12 students. Assayer Certification Training covers:
 * 7. Recommended Education and Training: ** Comprehensive assayer training is available through Chemical Sciences Technology on a part-time studies basis (as night school, distance education, workshop or Internet courses). The training was developed to meet the mining industry's growing demands for skilled and competent assayers in B.C. The advanced training offered in applied analytical chemistry prepares successful students to become eligible to write the exam for Provincial Certification given by the B.C. Ministry of Energy and Mines.
 * Introduction to assaying
 * Fire assaying and mineral identification
 * Classical wet assaying and qualitative analysis
 * Selectivity and specificity of analytical procedures
 * Analytical instrumentation-theory, and practical
 * Sampling theory and methods
 * Statistical analysis
 * Reference standards
 * Laboratory practicum



Citations: ** > Descriptions/ASSAYER.cfm>. > [].
 * "ASSAYER - Job Description." __Career Test | Career Counseling & Coaching__. 31 Mar. 2009 <http://www.careerplanner.com/DOT-Job-
 * "Assayer and Sampler Career Description | Jobs | Career Choices." __Career Descriptions | Jobs | Choices | Careers__. 31 Mar. 2009 []
 * "Assayer salary survey data." __SalaryExpert.com | Salary Survey Data, Compensation and Comparison Tools__. 03 Apr. 2009 []
 * "Assayer salary survey data." __SalaryExpert.com | Salary Survey Data, Compensation and Comparison Tools__. 03 Apr. 2009
 * "Google Image Result for http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/images/conglomerate.jpg." __Google Image Search__. 08 Apr. 2009 .