What we do in Mwanza
Much of Tanzania’s artisanal and small-scale gold passes through Mwanza and the towns around Lake Victoria before it reaches a refinery or an exporter. Lots here are often unmelted — dust, nuggets and small bars — and their fineness varies widely. Our testers establish what each lot is before it is bought, and arrange a witnessed melt where the material has to become a bar.
- [On-site gold testing](/services/gold-testing) at mineral markets, buying centres and dealers’ premises
- [Witnessed melts](/services/gold-smelting-melt-sampling) at licensed facilities, with weights in and out recorded
- Fire assay at an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory — accredited fire assay is available in Mwanza
- [Site inspection](/services/mine-warehouse-inspection) of small-scale operations that supply the lot
Where our testers attend
Mwanza city and its mineral market; the goldfields and buying centres around Shinyanga, Kahama and Musoma; and the refineries in the region, including the Mwanza Precious Metals Refinery. Sites further from the lake are reached by road on a date set in the scope.
Local rules that matter to a buyer
The government’s mineral markets and buying centres were set up so that artisanal gold is traded openly and its royalties paid. A buyer dealing outside them should expect to see a dealer’s or broker’s licence from the Mining Commission and records showing that royalties on the lot were paid. Dealers are also required to offer part of their gold to the Bank of Tanzania through the refineries.
How a testing engagement runs
- Brief — send the form of the gold, where it is held in the Lake Zone, the approximate quantity and the date you need, by the request form or email.
- Scope — we confirm the tests, the tester, the date, the laboratory if fire assay is required, and what the report will contain.
- Attendance — our tester attends, numbers and photographs each piece and weighs it on a calibrated scale.
- Testing — XRF, acid and density readings are taken on each piece and recorded in front of the parties.
- 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.
- 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