Record series
Classification of Assays
VPRS 19305
1882 - 1909
Open
North Melbourne
Agencies
This record series was created by:
Geological Survey of Victoria ( VA4118 ): 1882 - 1909
Department of Mines and Water Supply ( VA2720 ): 1895 - 1909
Agencies responsible for this record series: Geological Survey of Victoria ( VA 4118 ): 2022 - present
Date Range
Series date range: 1882 - 1909
Series in custody:
1882 - 1909
Contents in custody:
1882 - 1909
Function / Content
This series is a control record for VPRS 19304 Laboratory Registers of Assays. It is an index to the laboratory reports by type of assay sample, e.g. antimony, coal, clays, limestone, pyrites etc.Each entry for a particular classification of sample lists book and folio number (referring to the corresponding Laboratory Register volume and page number), Assay number, Description (of sample), Locality (where the sample came from) and results of assay (usually the amounts of gold, silver or other ores found in the sample).
How to use the records
The volume is self-indexed alphabetically by classification of sample.Researchers need to identify the book number under the sample classification to identify which volume of the Laboratory Register of Assays (VPRS 19304) contains the laboratory report. The Folio number then corresponds to a page number in the Laboratory Register.
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 (this series), which was a control record for the Laboratory Register of Assays indexed by sample type. As of 1908, Assay Sample Books (VPRS 19303) 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.
