Gold Assay and Testing Services in Africa, Done Where the Gold Is
Updated October 2026
Gold & mineral testing, assay, smelting, valuation and inspection for buyers, sellers and refiners.
SokoDolla testers and inspectors work on the ground in every country we source from. We test gold on site with XRF, acid and density tests, arrange laboratory assay, witness smelting, value the lot, and inspect copper and other minerals where they are — alongside supplier due diligence, negotiation, legal review, logistics and sourcing.
What Is Gold Assay, and How Is It Different from Gold Testing?
Gold assay is the laboratory measurement of how much gold a lot contains, and fire assay is the reference method. Gold testing is the quicker check done at the site with XRF, acid and density, to see whether the metal is what it is said to be before it moves or is paid for. SokoDolla does both: our testers test on site, weigh and seal the lot, and a sample goes to an accredited laboratory when the gold is settled on its content.
5 countries
Tanzania, DR Congo, Zambia, Kenya and Uganda
On site and in the lab
XRF, acid and density on site; fire assay at an accredited laboratory
A full record
Readings, weights, seal numbers, photos and video
Reported to you
A written report to you directly; laboratory certificates issued in your name
Our Services
Gold Testing on Site
Our testers go to the gold — at the mine, dealer, vault or warehouse — and test it with XRF analysers, acid (touchstone) and density tests. The lot is weighed and sealed, and a sample goes for fire assay at an accredited laboratory.
Learn moreGold Smelting & Melt Sampling
Raw, alluvial, scrap and jewellery gold is melted into bars at a licensed facility with our testers present. We record the weight before and after, take the assay sample from the melt, and seal and photograph the result, so the bar that is sold is the bar that was tested.
Gold Valuation
We value the lot from its weight, the tested purity and the LBMA gold price on the day, and set the calculation out line by line in your report. Use it to agree a price before a sale, or to check an offer against what the metal is worth.
Company & Mining-Licence Background Check
We confirm the company’s registration (PACRA in Zambia, RCCM in the DRC), tax number and beneficial owners, and check its mining licences on Zambia’s Mining Cadastre and the DRC’s CAMI register. The first step with any new supplier.
Document Authentication & Assay Verification
We confirm assay certificates with the laboratory that issued them (SGS, Bureau Veritas, Alfred H Knight), and check export permits, certificates of origin and, for the DRC, ICGLR certificates from the CEEC — each with the body that issued it.
On-Site Mine & Warehouse Inspection
We travel so you don’t have to. Our team visits the mine, warehouse or stockyard for you, confirms the operation and its scale, records photos and video, witnesses loading and reports back — across the Copperbelt (Kitwe, Ndola, Solwezi) and Lualaba / Haut-Katanga (Kolwezi, Lubumbashi).
Independent Copper Sampling & Lab Testing
We take samples at source ourselves and send them to SGS, Bureau Veritas or Intertek for XRF purity and ICP-OES elemental analysis. The certificate is issued to you directly by the laboratory.
Enhanced Supplier Investigation
For larger deals, a deeper check: trade references, court and litigation history, media review, sanctions and PEP screening, beneficial-ownership tracing, and confirmation on the ground that the offices, plant and people are real — through public records and licensed local partners.
Negotiation & Procurement Consulting
We negotiate with suppliers on your behalf: price against the LME, TC/RC on concentrate, Incoterms, LC or T/T payment and milestones, and inspection clauses — so the terms you sign work in your favour.
Legal Review & Contract Coordination
We review sale-and-purchase agreements, LC and T/T clauses, inspection and force-majeure terms, and strengthen weak clauses before you sign — working with licensed local counsel in Zambia and the DRC, who give the formal legal advice.
1-on-1 Client Engagement Travel
For larger or strategic engagements, our team comes to you — in-person deal reviews, supplier shortlist walk-throughs and procurement briefings with your team, face to face.
Final Risk Score & Recommendation Report
Every engagement ends with a written report: a 0–100 trust score, a colour-coded risk level, the findings from each service we ran, and a clear recommendation — proceed, proceed with conditions, or do not proceed.
Logistics & Trade Coordination
Transport to Dar es Salaam, Durban or Lobito, export documents and shipping, coordinated from the mine or warehouse to the port.
Learn moreSourcing & Supplier Introduction
Gold, copper cathodes, concentrate, wire and scrap, cobalt and coltan from verified suppliers — tested and inspected before you commit.
Learn moreBespoke Services
Site visits, representation at loading, document checks, or anything else you need done on the ground in East and Central Africa.
How SokoDolla Tests Gold
Each method answers a different question, so our testers use them together on site and send a sample for fire assay when the gold is settled on its content.
| Test | What it tells you | Where it is done |
|---|---|---|
| XRF analysis | Non-destructive reading of the metal composition — gold, silver, copper and other elements — in seconds, on site. | On site |
| Acid (touchstone) test | A quick check of fineness (karat) using a streak on a touchstone and test acids. | On site |
| Density / specific gravity | Weighing in air and in water measures the density of the whole piece, not just its surface. | On site |
| Fire assay (laboratory) | The reference method for gold content, carried out at an accredited laboratory, with the certificate issued to you. | Accredited laboratory |
| Weighing, sealing & records | Calibrated weighing, numbered seals and a photo and video record of the lot and every test. | On site |
Buying gold? See gold from verified suppliers in Africa.
Gold Testing for Buyers, Sellers and Refiners
Buyers
Confirm what the gold is before you pay. Our testers test the lot where it is, weigh and seal it, and report to you directly.
Sellers
Give your buyer a written test record: readings, weights, seal numbers and photos of the lot and the testing.
Refiners and dealers
Check incoming doré, bars, nuggets and scrap before you take them in, with fire assay at a laboratory where the content decides the price.
How a Gold Test Request Works
- 1
Send the details
The material and its form, where it is, the quantity and your preferred date.
- 2
Receive the quotation
We reply with the scope, the date and the price for the job.
- 3
Testers attend
XRF, acid and density tests on site. The lot is weighed, sealed and recorded; a sample goes for fire assay if needed.
- 4
Receive your report
A written report with readings, weights, seal numbers, photos and video, plus the laboratory certificate in your name.
Copper and Other Minerals
For copper cathodes, we check brand marks, count and weigh bundles and read the copper grade with XRF. For copper concentrate, we take samples for laboratory assay and moisture. For copper wire and scrap, we inspect the grade against ISRI specifications at the yard, before it is baled and loaded.
Cobalt and coltan lots are sampled, weighed and sealed, with laboratory analysis and the export documentation checked against the lot.
Testers on the Ground
SokoDolla testers and inspectors work in Tanzania, the DR Congo, Zambia, Kenya and Uganda — at mines, dealers’ premises, bonded warehouses, vaults and ports.
What You Receive
A written report with the test readings, weights and seal numbers, plus photos and video of the material and the testing — sent to you directly. Laboratory certificates are issued in your name.
Request a Service
Choose the service and tell us where the material or supplier is. We reply with the scope, the date and a quotation.
Testing & Inspection — FAQ
What is the difference between gold testing and gold assay?
Gold testing is the quick check done at the site with XRF, acid (touchstone) and density tests, to see whether the metal is what it is said to be before it moves or is paid for. Gold assay is the laboratory measurement of how much gold a lot contains, and fire assay is the reference method. SokoDolla does both: our testers test on site, weigh and seal the lot, and a sample goes to an accredited laboratory when the gold is settled on its content.
Does SokoDolla test the gold itself?
Yes. SokoDolla has its own testers on the ground in Tanzania, the DR Congo, Zambia, Kenya and Uganda. They test gold on site with XRF analysers, acid (touchstone) tests and density tests, weigh and seal the lot, and report to you directly. Where the gold is to be settled on its content, a sample goes for fire assay at an accredited laboratory.
Which gold tests do you carry out?
XRF analysis for the metal composition, acid (touchstone) testing for fineness, and density (specific gravity) testing of the whole piece. Each test checks something different, so we use them together. Fire assay at an accredited laboratory is the reference method for the final gold content.
Why use more than one test?
XRF and acid tests read the surface of the metal, while a density test measures the whole piece. Using them together gives a reliable picture on site, and fire assay at a laboratory gives the definitive gold content used for settlement.
Which countries do you cover?
Tanzania, the DR Congo, Zambia, Kenya and Uganda, at mines, dealers’ premises, bonded warehouses, vaults and ports. Tell us where the material is and we confirm the date and scope.
Do you test copper and other minerals too?
Yes. We inspect and test copper cathodes, copper concentrate and copper wire and scrap, as well as cobalt and coltan: grade checks, sampling, weighing, marking and photo records, with laboratory assay where the contract requires it.
What do I receive?
A written report with the test readings, weights, seal numbers and a photo and video record of the material and the testing, shared with you directly. Laboratory certificates are issued to you as the client.
Can you test gold before I pay the seller?
Yes. Testing, weighing and sealing are done where the gold is, at the mine, dealer, vault or warehouse, before you release payment, and the report goes to you directly. Tell us the location and the lot and we arrange the date.
What gold can you test?
Doré bars, gold bars and ingots, nuggets, raw alluvial gold and dust, and jewellery or scrap gold. If you are not sure what form the material is in, say so on the request and our testers will confirm on arrival.
Do you test gold for sellers and refiners as well as buyers?
Yes. Sellers use a written test record, with readings, weights, seal numbers and photos, to show a buyer what the lot is. Refiners and dealers use it to check doré, bars, nuggets and scrap before taking them in.
Do you offer gold smelting?
Yes. Raw alluvial gold, scrap and jewellery gold can be melted into bars at a licensed facility with our testers present. We record the weight before and after, take the assay sample from the melt, and seal and photograph the bar, so the assay result belongs to the bar that is sold.
Do you value gold, and how?
Yes. We value the lot from its weight, the tested purity and the LBMA gold price on the day, and show the calculation line by line in the report. It gives both sides a fair figure to agree a price on, and a way to check an offer against what the metal is worth.
How much does gold testing cost?
Each job is quoted on its own. The price depends on where the material is, the quantity, the tests needed and whether a laboratory assay is required. Send the details through the form or on WhatsApp and we reply with the scope, the date and a quotation.
How long does gold testing take?
XRF, acid and density results are read during the visit itself. Fire assay takes as long as the laboratory needs, and we confirm that in the quotation.
How do I request a service?
Fill in the request form on this page with the service, the mineral and its form, where the material is and how much there is. We reply with the scope, the date and a quotation.
