Gold Refiners & Bars Worldwide

Published by Grendon International Research Pty Ltd (June 1991)

Compiled by Nigel Desebrock
476 pages
Printed in black & white
Size: 320 mm x 220 mm (12” x 9”)
Weight: 2.4 kg
Case bound with hardback cover and boxed for delivery
ISBN: 0 646 03150 3

“Gold Refiners & Bars Worldwide is a massive undertaking... a publication which will of necessity find its way onto the bookshelves of all those with any involvement in the gold industry. A job superbly well done”. Chamber of Mines of South Africa

The first and only book to provide comprehensive information on the background, products and services of the world’s major gold refiners.

Although published in 1991, it remains a standard industry reference work.

The book devotes an average of 5 pages to the 50 refiners featured, covering location, ownership, background and historical development and commercial focus; gold services, including materials treated, refining and assaying methods; as well as their range of fabricated products for industrial and retail purposes. Each refiner is covered in an identical format for ease of reference and analysis.

All 50 refiners completed detailed questionnaires. 16 comparative tables are included. These range from gold refining and assaying methods to gold products provided for the jewellery, electronic, decorative and dental industries.

The book also includes 9 concise illustrated articles by international authorities.

INDUSTRY SUPPORT		3
FOREWORD		4
PREFACE		5
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS		6
ACCREDITATION		11
Accredited gold refiners		12
Ownership		14
Locations		16
London Bullion Market Association		18
Commodity Exchange Inc		20
Tokyo Commodity Exchange		21
Zurich Gold Pool		22
Gold delivery gold bars		23
ORIENTATION		25
Role of gold refiners		26
World gold supply and demand		28
Gold bar hoarding		30
TECHNICAL SECTIONS		33
Physical properties of gold	Robert Owen	34
Gold-bearing materials	Dr William Rapson	38
Gold refining methods	Dr William Rapson	44
Gold assaying methods	Dr R Murray-Smith	52
Gold products for the jewellery industry	Christopher Walton	58
Gold products for the electronics industry	Prof Dr Ch J Raub	66
Gold products for the decorative industry	Prof Dr Ch J Raub	72
Gold products for the dental industry	Prof Jean-Marc Meyer	76
Gold blanks for medals and coins	Ralph Smith	82
GOLD BARS		89
Weights and purities		90
Cast bars		94
Minted bars		100
Official stamps and certification marks		104
Serial numbering systems		108
Shapes		112
Supplementary designs on minted bars		118
GOLD REFINERS		121
EUROPE
Belgium	SA Acec-Union Miniere NV	124
France	Comptoir Lyon-Alemand Louyot	128
	Engelhard SA	132
Germany	Degussa AG	136
	Heraeus Holding GmbH	146
	Norddeutsche Affinerie Aktiengesellschaft	152
Italy	Metalli Preziosi SpA	154
Netherlands	H Drijfhout & Zoon’s Edelmetaalbedrijven BV	158
	Schone Edelmetaal BV	160
Spain	INDUMETAL SA/Orispania SA	166
	Sociedad Espanola de Metales Preciosos SA	170
Sweden	Boliden Mineral AB	174
Switzerland	Argor-Heraeus SA	178
	Cendres & Metaux SA	184
	Metaux Precieux SA Metalor	188
	Pamp SA	198
	Valcambi SA	208
United Kingdom	Engelhard Ltd	214
	Johnson Matthey Plc	220
NORTH AMERICA
Canada	Johnson Matthey Ltd	232
	Noranda Minerals Inc (CCR Div)	238
	Royal Canadian Mint	242
USA	ASARCO Incorporated	246
	Engelhard Corporation	250
	Handy & Harman	254
	Heraeus Incoporated	264
	Homestake Mining Company	266
	Johnson Matthey Inc	272
	Metalor USA Refining Corp	276
	Sabin Metal Corporation	280
LATIN AMERICA
Brazil	Casa da Moeda do Brasil	286
	Degussa SA	292
	Mineracao Morro Velho SA	298
FAR EAST
Hong Kong	Heraeus Ltd	306
Japan	Chugai Mining Co Ltd	308
	Dowa Mining Co Ltd	310
	Ishifuku Metal Industry Co Ltd	314
	Mitsubishi Materials Corporation	320
	Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co Ltd	326
	Nippon Mining Co Ltd	330
	Sumitomo Metal Mining Co Ltd	334
	Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo KK	340
	Tokuriki Honten Co Ltd	350
Philippines	Central Bank of the Philippines	356
Singapore	Degussa (Private) Ltd	360
AFRICA
South Africa	Rand Refinery Ltd	366
Zimbabwe	Fidelity Printers & Refiners (Private) Ltd	376
AUSTRALIA
Australia	Australian Gold Refineries	382
	Johnson Matthey (Aust) Ltd	388
EASTERN BLOCK
USSR	Glavalmazzoloto of the USSR	396
FEATURES		403
Chinese Gold & Silver Exchange Society, Hong Kong	Tael bars	404
Gold Trader Association, Thailand	Baht bars	416
Japan Gold Metal Association	Gramme bars	422
Mercantile & Futures Exchange, Sao Paulo	250 g bars	428
India Government Mint	Gramme bars	434
Other Accredited Refiners		436
HISTORICAL GOLD BARS		439
LBMA: Melters & Assayers (1934-1990)		440
Royal Mint and Overseas Branches		446
US Mint		450
Casa de Fundicao - Brazil		454
“Gold Leaf” bars - Vietnam 4		456
REFINERY COMPANY MANAGEMENT		459
SPONSORS		469