What we do in Sierra Leone

Gold offered in Freetown usually comes from artisanal workings in the eastern and northern provinces and passes through one or more licensed dealers before export. Lots presented in the city may have changed hands several times since they were mined. We test the gold, confirm the seller and its licence, and, where the seller claims to produce the gold, visit the source.

  • [On-site gold testing](/services/gold-testing) in Freetown and in the mining provinces
  • [Seller checks](/locations/supplier-due-diligence-sierra-leone) — CAC company record and National Minerals Agency licences
  • [Site inspection](/services/mine-warehouse-inspection) of producing operations and dealers’ premises
  • Fire assay by an accredited laboratory; the certificate names you as client

Rules a buyer meets in Sierra Leone

Mining and mineral trading are governed by the Mines and Minerals Development Act, 2022, in force since May 2023, which replaced the Mines and Minerals Act of 2009. The National Minerals Agency (NMA) administers mineral rights, including artisanal mining licences and the dealer and exporter licences for precious minerals; an exporter licence runs for a year. Companies are registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission. A seller who cannot show the licence that matches its role — miner, dealer or exporter — cannot lawfully export the lot.

How a testing engagement runs

  1. Brief — send the form of the gold, where it is held in Freetown or the provinces, the approximate quantity and the date you need, by the request form or email.
  2. Scope — we confirm the tests, the tester, the date, the laboratory if fire assay is required, and what the report will contain.
  3. Attendance — our tester attends, numbers and photographs each piece and weighs it on a calibrated scale.
  4. Testing — XRF, acid and density readings are taken on each piece and recorded in front of the parties.
  5. Sealing and sampling — the lot is sealed with numbered seals; where fire assay is in scope, a sample is drawn and sealed for the laboratory.
  6. Report — the field report follows within one working day; the laboratory certificate, addressed to you, when it is issued.

What you receive

  • A field report with XRF, acid and density readings for every piece
  • Calibrated weights, piece numbers and seal numbers
  • Photographs of the pieces, the readings and the sealing, taken by our tester
  • Where in scope, a fire assay certificate from an accredited laboratory, addressed to you
  • Where requested, a valuation on the LBMA Gold Price