Assaying Cupel

Smaller assaying tools like this were used for beads to test the material. One would melt the material in the ceramic flask and would pull out a small bead and weigh the sample. For example, miners would take a one-pound sample of material, crush it, and put it through the assaying process. If the end result produces one pound per ton, it was worth sending it to the mill. If any less was produced, it was not sent.