inquartation

[in-kwawr-tey-shuhn]

noun

1. (in assaying) the addition of silver to a gold-silver alloy in order to facilitate the parting of the gold by nitric acid.

Word History and Origins

Origin of inquartation¹

1880–85; perhaps < French inquartation. See in- ², quarter, -ation

Example Sentences

The antimonial method would have an advantage over nitric acid separation, in that high-grade bullion could be treated direct without artificial decrease of fineness required by inquartation to about .250 fine, with the consequent incidental losses of silver involved.

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If our conclusions are correct that the first of these began to appear at about 1510, then they give the first description of inquartation.

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It used to be called “quartation” or “inquartation,” from the fact that the alloy best suited for the operation of refining contained 3 parts of silver to 1 of gold.

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The operation by which the alloy is brought to this standard is termed quartation or inquartation, and consists in fusing the alloy in a cupel with lead and the quantity of fine silver or fine gold necessary to bring it to the desired composition.

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It has the further advantage, that, if the quantity of silver necessary for inquartation is known, the right quantity may be added here, so as to save a subsequent operation.

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