Record series
Assay Sample Books
VPRS 19303
1908 - 1979
Open
North Melbourne
Agencies
This record series was created by:
Department of Mines and Water Supply ( VA2720 ): 1908 - 1909
Geological Survey of Victoria ( VA4118 ): 1908 - 1979
Department of Minerals and Energy ( VA611 ): 1977 - 1979
Agencies responsible for this record series: Geological Survey of Victoria ( VA 4118 ): 2022 - present
Date Range
Series date range: 1908 - 1979
Series in custody:
1908 - 1979
Contents in custody:
1908 - 1979
Function / Content
This series comprises a register of samples received for assaying by the laboratories of Geological Survey Victoria (VA 4118) and the Mines Department (VA 612).An assay is a chemical analysis used to determine the proportion of metallic (gold, silver, copper, etc.) or non- metallic (sulphur, phosphorus, etc.) elements in a sample. It is also used to determine the quality and purity of the ore or precious metal and identify pollutants or impurities. Geological samples were collected by individuals, businesses, or government departments from sites across Victoria, and included brown and black coal, quartz, tailings, bore water, mine air, rock, silt, and clay.
Each entry records the assay sample number, the date the sample was received by the laboratory, the character and description of the sample, the name of the sample sender, the locality the sample came from and the date the laboratory report was forwarded to the Department.
How to use the records
Samples are recorded in volumes by year and assay number and the volumes are self-indexed by locality or name. Volumes can be used to locate the corresponding laboratory report by the location of the sample or by name of the person who submitted the sample.Recordkeeping system
This series forms part of a larger departmental recordkeeping system, managing the receipt of samples in and dissemination of assay reports out.Samples were initially sent to the Department (known as the Department of Mines and Water Supply and subsequently the Mines Department) and recorded in the Assay Register (VPRS 19302), where the next assay number was assigned in sequence, re-starting with each new year. The sample was then sent to the Department’s Laboratory where the assay treatment and results were recorded in the Laboratory Register of Assays (VPRS 19304). A copy of the results was sent back to the Department to be recorded in the Assay Register (VPRS 19302) and sent on the original sample sender. The Laboratory also recorded the assay results in the Classification of Assays (VPRS 19305), which was a control record for the Laboratory Register of Assays indexed by sample type. As of 1908, Assay Sample Books (this series) were created by laboratories to record the receiving of samples as well as when the reports were sent back to the Department.
It appears that from 1944 the recordkeeping system changed and the bound volumes of assay reports in VPRS 19143 superseded and replaced both VPRS 19304 and VPRS 19302.
Before coming into the custody of Public Record Office Victoria, this series was held at the Geological Survey of Victoria (GSV) Drill Core Library at Werribee.
