Cupellation: The oldest quantitative chemical process

Abstract

Covers the history of cupellation, the separation of silver and gold from argentiferous lead by melting in a shallow furnace then oxidizing the base metals in air. Probably discovered about 400 BC, this was the major process for purification and assaying of silver and gold until the 19th century. Compositional evidence for cupellation is presented for several ancient objects and hearth sites. Descriptions of the cupellation process and assaying by cupellation are given from a wide variety of ancient through Renaissance texts from the Middle East, India, China and Europe. -- AATA