Reducing Risk in Precious Metals with Independent Testing, Inspection, and Certification

Testing, Inspection & Certification Services for Precious Metals 

Since the beginning of civilisation, precious metals have helped shape the rise and fall of global powers. In precious metals markets, risk directly impacts value. From inaccuracies in sampling and assaying to supply chain opacity, fraud, and compliance failures, even small errors can lead to significant financial losses and disputes. 

For refiners, traders, miners, and manufacturers, mitigating these risks requires strong internal controls supported by independent, verifiable assurance across every stage of the value chain. 

Cotecna Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) services for Metals and Minerals are designed to help clients protect asset value, ensure compliance, and operate with confidence in high-stakes environments. 

Why Risk Management Is Critical in Precious Metals 

Precious metals transactions depend on precision and trust: 

• Minor variations in purity can significantly affect pricing
• Errors in sampling or preparation can invalidate results
• Lack of traceability increases exposure to fraud and disputes 

Without independent verification, organisations face: 

• Financial loss due to incorrect valuation
• Contractual disputes between buyers and sellers
• Regulatory or market access delays
• Reputational damage linked to sourcing or handling risks
• Independent TIC services reduce uncertainty and provide objective, trusted data for decision making.

How Cotecna Helps Clients Reduce Risk 

Regulatory pressures, quality expectations, and evolving market demands all create potential points of failure that can impact precious metal value, business performance, and reputation. 

Cotecna helps clients reduce these risks by providing independent services that ensure products, processes, and supply chains meet the highest standards. By combining technical expertise with global reach, Cotecna supports informed decision making, strengthens compliance, and safeguards product integrity at every stage. 

Our services include: 

Accurate Precious Metals Sampling and Supervision 

Sampling is one of the most critical control points in precious metals operations. 

Clients benefit: 

• Fair and representative sampling
• Reduced dispute risk
• Confidence in downstream analytical results 

Cotecna offers: 

• On-site supervision of processing and sampling at refineries
• Stockpile, Super Sac, and Drum sampling
• Controlled sample preparation with documented procedures 

Reliable Precious Metals Analytical Testing 

The true value of precious metals lies in accurate elemental composition. 

Clients benefit:

• Trusted and defensible assay results
• Reduced financial exposure
• Faster transaction validation and settlement 

Cotecna capabilities include: 

• Elemental analysis for Gold, Silver, and Platinum Group Metals (Ag, and PGM)
• Use of recognised analytical methods and controlled lab processes
• Repeatable, high integrity results 

Independent Asset Verification 

High value materials such as bullion require strict oversight and accountability. 

Clients benefit: 

• Protection against discrepancies, loss, or fraud
• Greater inventory control and transparency
• Increased trust from stakeholders and auditors 

Cotecna offers: 

• Bullion and vault auditing
• Independent verification of quantities and holdings
• Secure inspection and reporting processes 

Compliance and Market Access Support 

Access to global precious metals markets depends on meeting strict regulatory and exchange requirements. 

Clients benefit: 

• Reduced delays in certification or approval
• Improved readiness for audits and inspections
• Stronger positioning with buyers and regulators 

Cotecna support includes: 

• Exchange registration audits
• Verification against industry and regulatory frameworks
• Documentation to support compliance and trade 

Cotecna Precious Metals Product Scope 

Cotecna provides testing, inspection, and certification across a wide range of precious metal commodities, we support both primary production and circular supply chains.

Industrial and Primary Materials

• Automotive catalysts
• Petrochemical catalysts
• Mining products (dore, carbon, slag)
• Refining salts and solutions 

Secondary and Recycled Materials 

• Jewellery scrap
• Dental scrap
• Electronic scrap
• Manufacturing scrap and sweeps
• Electroplating solutions 

High-Value Products 

• Bullion 

Our wide service scope enables the following:

• Confidence in diverse and complex material inputs
• Reliable valuation of recycled and secondary materials
• Reduced risk when sourcing from multiple or non-traditional suppliers
• Proven record of customised solutions for complex situations 

Reducing Disputes Through Independent Verification 

Disputes in precious metals transactions are often driven by: 

• Sampling inconsistencies
• Assay and testing discrepancies
• Quantity disagreements 

Cotecna provides: 

• Independent, third-party verification including Umpire Sample Testing
• Transparent and auditable processes
• Reports trusted by buyers, sellers, and financial institutions 

Resulting in fewer disputes, faster resolutions, and stronger commercial relationships. 

Fire Assay for Precise Precious Metals Analysis 

Fire assay remains the benchmark method for precise determination of precious metal content, particularly for gold (Au), silver (Ag), and platinum group metals (PGMs). Widely recognised for its accuracy and reliability, fire assay is often used as the referee method in trade, mining, refining, and recycling environments where financial value depends directly on analytical precision. 

The process involves high-temperature fusion, where a representative sample is combined with fluxes and subjected to temperatures exceeding 1,000°C. During this process, precious metals are separated from the host material and collected into a lead or nickel matte. This is followed by cupellation or further refining steps to isolate the target metals for quantitative measurement. 

One of the key advantages of fire assay is its ability to deliver highly accurate, repeatable results even at very low concentrations, making it particularly valuable for: 

• Determining gold and silver content in ores, concentrates, and dore
• Verifying value in recycled materials such as automotive catalysts and electronic scrap
• Supporting settlement processes in trading and refining transactions
• Detecting inconsistencies or deviations in declared metal content 

For platinum group metals, fire assay is often combined with advanced analytical techniques such as ICP-OES or ICP-MS to achieve precise multi-element detection, ensuring full characterisation of complex materials. 

By providing independent, laboratory verified results, fire assay plays a critical role in reducing commercial and operational risk for precious metals. It enables businesses to validate commodity value, strengthen transparency, and support contractual confidence across the metals and minerals supply chain. 

Supporting Risk Management in Circular Supply Chains 

As the industry moves toward circularity, more material is sourced from scrap and recycled streams introducing additional variability. 

Cotecna helps clients:

• Verify composition of scrap and secondary materials
• Ensure accurate recovery and valuation
• Maintain compliance with environmental and trade regulations 

We help clients adopt circular sourcing strategies without increasing operational or financial risk.

A Client Focused Approach to Precious Metals Assurance 

Cotecna’s services are built around key client priorities: 

• Accuracy – Reliable testing and sampling protects transaction value
• Transparency – Full visibility across the material lifecycle
• Compliance – Alignment with global standards and requirements
• Independence – Objective verification you can trust
• Efficiency – Timely results that support fast-moving markets
• Strengthening Confidence in Precious Metals Transactions 

In an industry where precision, trust, and compliance are essential, independent TIC services provide a critical layer of protection. 

By partnering with Cotecna, organisations can:

• Reduce financial and operational risk
• Ensure accurate and transparent transactions
• Improve compliance and audit readiness
• Strengthen trust with stakeholders across the value chain 

Cotecna Metals & Minerals Global Network 

Our network covers all strategic mining hubs and trade routes. We are globally present, leveraging local expertise for exceptional service delivery.  

Discover Key Cotecna Group Metals & Minerals Laboratories & Entities

• AGS - Cotecna Chile

• GeoChem India

• Shiva Analyticals

• Cotecna (China, South Africa) 

To learn more about Cotecna Precious Metals services, or to get a free quote, please contact us. 

Download our free Cotecna Metals & Minerals brochure

About Cotecna

For over 50 years, we have been supporting agriculture, food and pharma, minerals and metals, and consumer products supply chains all over the world. We provide testing, inspection, and certification services to help our clients navigate evolving regulations, ensure product compliance, and support their sustainability journey.