assay office

American  

noun

1. a local testing station for assaying ore, as gold or silver, especially a government station maintained in connection with the registration of mineral claims, purchases of gold, or the like.

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Etymology

Origin of assay office

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

He sent the pebbles to an assay office.

From New York Times • Dec. 5, 2022

Not one to surrender easily, McHugh decided on his own motivational tactic: He flew to Delaware, walked into a U.S. government assay office, and asked for $25,000 worth of gold.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 10, 2017

On this date in 1881, James Finely brought a sample of ore to the assay office of the Hermosa Mining Co. at Harshaw which assayed at 823.77 ounces of silver to the ton.

From Washington Times • Jun. 2, 2017

With its famous anchor mark stamped on its grand facade, the nearby Birmingham assay office, where new jewellery and other finery is brought to be hallmarked, is having a lean time.

From The Guardian • Aug. 26, 2011

Wilmington, principal seaport and chief city; pop., 13,446; Raleigh, capital, and contains the State institutions; pop., 7,790 Charlotte contains assay office; pop., 4,473; pop.

From Alden's Handy Atlas of the World by Alden, John B.