Gold, by reason of its occurrence in the metallic state, was probably one of the first metals known to man. Its brilliant colour, high specific gravity, resistance to corrosion and excellent malleability have since given it a privileged place among metals. For several centuries in the medieval period, alchemists endeavoured to transmute base metals into gold; their efforts, of course, were unsuccessful but resulted in early knowledge of the chemical behaviour of gold and its compounds. From the beginning of quantitative chemical analysis, the high value of gold dictated careful sampling and a degree of analytical accuracy far greater than that required for all other metals except those of the platinum group.During the long association of man with gold, the determination of the latter in ores and metallurgical products has been generally carried out by fire assay. In this technique of analytical chemistry, the sample is mixed with appropriate fluxes and litharge in a crucible, .and is melted in a Turnace. Gold, having a weak af inity for non-metallic elements at high temperature, but a very streng affinity for the molten lead formed by reduction of litharge, is collected in a lead button. When the latter is heated under oxidizing conditions in a porous vessel called a cupel, the lead is rapidly oxidized to PbO which is 98.5 per cent absorbed by the cupel and 1.5 per cent volatilized, leaving the gold, and silver if present, in the form of a bead. Subsequent treatment with dilute nitric acid, termed 'parting', dissolves the silver, and the residue of gold is then weighed on a special type of balance which is sensitive to at least 0.005 mg.Though very important, fire assaying is not the only method used in the determination of gold. For many gold-bearing materials, gravimetric, volumetric and colorimetric procedures, or the techniques of atomic absorption, optical spectrography and X-ray tluorescence are employed.