Fundamentals and Applications of Fire Assay - Short Course

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This is a comprehensive short-course designed to provide fundamental, laboratory and industrial training in Fire Assay. It is valuable to both technical and nontechnical personnel. A wide variety of topics are thorougly covered: 

• History & Methodology
• Sampling Theory & Instrumentation
• Challenges & Applications
• Chemistry & Calculations
• Thermodynamic Evaluations
• Supportive Analytical Methods
• Industrial Tours of Milling, Smelting and Refining Operations as well as Labs
• Applications to Au, Ag and PGMs

HANDS-ON LAB

An elective Hands-on Lab is offered on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 but is not sponsored by Montana Tech. Demand though is expected to be high with limited space so act fast!

INDUSTRIAL TOURS 

• Sibanye-Stillwater Mining Company
• Primary and Secondary
• PGM Smelter, Refinery and Lab, Columbus, MT
• Barrick Golden Sunlight Lab, Au and Au-Pyrite Producer Whitehall, MT
• Hecla Lab and Lucky Friday Mill, Primary Ag Producer, Mullan ID
• American Analytical Services, Metallurgical, Environmental, and Chemical Lab, Osburn, ID
• Christopherson Inc. Lab,
• Kellogg, ID

Short Course is hosted by Dr. Courtney Young, Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Department, Montana Tech, Butte, MT, (406) 496-4158.