Refining

Our Refining Process

David H. Fell & Company, Inc. offers state-of-the-art refining techniques that serve our customers efficiently and expediently. Each lot, regardless of size, receives the same careful attention. Our goal is to recover those precious metals you’ve specified for refining so you can feel confident in receiving the best possible settlement.

For over 40 years, as a private family owned and operated company, we have earned the confidence of thousands of repeat customers that choose DHF Co. for refining their precious metals. Let us earn your confidence and show you the DHF difference.

Step 1: DHF Co. Receives Your Material

Upon arrival of your material for refining, two DHF team members open your package and weigh the contents. If there is a discrepancy between the packing slip and the weight received, then you are contacted before your material is sent onto the next step in the refining process. After the material has been weighed and the amounts confirmed, the data is entered into our computer system to generate a unique job number just for your refining lot

Step 2: Preparation Before the Sample

Our experienced personnel review each job before it is melted to confirm the necessary and most profitable refining procedure for you. Depending on the type of material the decision could be any one or combination of: incineration, milling, screening, chemical leaching (we can remove & return valuable diamonds for example), smelting, or melting.

Step 3: Sampling

DHF Co. uses various sampling methods. For precious metal scrap, the material is melted in an induction or gas furnace. Once the metal is molten we use a vacuum-sealed glass tube to remove a small sample of material to test for fine metal content. For materials requiring incineration, a homogeneous powder sample is removed to test for fine metal content. All samples are sent to our in-house laboratory for analysis using the latest technology and most accurate methods to determine the purity.

Step 4: Analyzing

David H. Fell & Company is capable of analyzing the fine metal content to parts per million (PPM), assuring accurate settlements. Depending on the type of material we may use XRF, ICP, or a fire assay to determine the percentage of fine metal contained. The result of the analysis is then entered into our computer system for settlement. See Analysis Methods

Step 5: Settlement

The settlement is based on the net fine metal contained in the refined material, valued on the daily market prices. DHF Co. offers a variety of settlement options from which to choose: check, product exchange, wire transfer, vault account, or credit to account. DHF Co. settles and pays in as little as 2 days, so you receive your money fast. See Settlement Options

We accept the following types of mined materials:

• Placer (alluvial) gold with minimal to no black sand
• Dore with minimal to no iron
• Zinc precipitate
• US Mined Metals only – fully documented

However, we do not accept the following types of mined material:

• Ore concentrates
• Black Sands
• Slag
• Gold Silicates
• Rocks
• Anything containing arsenic, selenium, cadmium, antimony, tellurium, mercury, or radioactive elements
• Any Mined materials originating from Africa or Democratic Republic of Congo.