NEW PROJECT – Towards transparency in the supply of mined gold – an approach based on scientific analyses

In a nutshell

Gold is of increasing importance in terms of its social, environmental and geopolitical issues. Switzerland is one of the key players in this market, not only for trading but also for refining. It is becoming urgent to know where the gold is coming from.
Our project provides a powerful tool for determining the source of modern gold issued from primary production. By this, we contribute to responding concretely and rigorously to the demands of society and the markets for greater transparency in the gold trading sector.
Our approach is based on scientific analyses (isotopic, chemical and statistical). It therefore provides scientific proof, making fraud difficult.

Concretely

Our project aims at the confirmation of origin declared by the gold suppliers.
We offer a geoforensic gold passport that describes the scientific signature (chemical, isotopic and statistical) of a supplier and enables us to differentiate one supplier from another.

This page gives a general overview of our new research project. For more information, click on the blue links.

Total resource needs:	CHF including overhead according to the University of Lausanne rules and VAT
Already supported funding:	CHF Financial support
Donation account:	University of Lausanne, Banque Cantonal Vaudoise, Lausanne IBAN: CH56 00767 000S 0710 0914
Contact:	Barbara Beck, [email protected]l.ch, +41 76 398 1228 Our team
Other information:	Press release, newspaper articles Picture gallery Former Metalor Project Former Peru Project

Financial resources required	Already supported funding	Implementation partner	Research partner
0. General information, state of the art
1. Automation of the selection of non-conforming doré bars on arrival at the refiner’s premises
CHF 240’000.-		Metalor	UNIL
2. Influences of ore deposits and metallurgical treatments on the chemical composition of the doré bars
CHF 130’000.-		Metalor	UNIL, UNIGE
3. At the interface between industrial and artisanal mining: implications and adaptations
CHF 83’000.-	CHF 83’000.-	BGI, Metalor	UNIL, UNIGE
4. Amalgamation or not? Determining the nature of the mercury present in gold
CHF 30’000.-	CHF 5’000.-	BGI	UNIL, Hélioparc Pau
5. Visibility and knowledge transfer
CHF 120’000.-		BGI, Metalor	Geological Museum Lausanne, UNIL, UNIGE, Hélioparc Pau
6. Artisanal Gold Refinery in Africa
		Metalor, GG Tanzania	UNIL
7. Geoforensic passeport of a single mine / supplier
			UNIL, Metalor

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