Comparison of X-ray fluorescent analysis and cupellation method for gold determination

Abstract

To make jewellery of gold, gold is alloyed with other metals. It is of great importance to accurately determine the total amount of pure gold in alloys used for making the jewellery and in jewellery made of gold, because it determines its value on the market. This study compares non-destructive X-ray fluorescent analysis with destructive cupellation methods for measuring gold content in 14-carat jewelry alloys, validated using F-test and t-test comparisons from an inter-laboratory program with 62 cupellation and 60 XRF participating laboratories.