What we do in Geita

In Geita the gold and its source are close together, which makes it the right place to test both. A typical engagement combines testing the lot with an inspection of the site that is said to have produced it: that the site is worked, that it lies inside a licensed area, and that its output is consistent with the quantity offered.

  • XRF, acid and density testing at the mine, the mineral market or the dealer
  • Inspection of primary mining licence areas and their processing equipment
  • GPS positions of workings checked against the licence on the Mining Commission’s cadastre
  • Witnessed melts and sampling for fire assay

Licences in the Geita goldfields

Small-scale operations in Tanzania work under primary mining licences issued by the Mining Commission, each covering a defined area. A seller who says it mines the gold should hold such a licence or buy from someone who does; a dealer should hold a dealer’s licence. Geita has its own mineral market, and the Geita Gold Refinery is one of the refineries through which the Bank of Tanzania buys gold.

How an engagement runs

  1. Brief — send the form of the gold, where it is held in Geita, 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 written inspection report follows within 2 business days of the visit; the laboratory certificate, addressed to you, 3–5 business days after the sample reaches the lab.

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

Where a site inspection is included, the report adds the site’s GPS position, a description of the operation and its observed scale, and dated photographs taken by our inspector.