In African gold trade, understanding the difference between doré gold and refined gold is essential for buyers, refiners, and regulators. While both originate from mines, they represent distinct stages of processing with major implications for pricing, compliance, and market access. AFRICA GOLD works primarily with refined gold, but its teams routinely handle doré to ensure proper upgrading before export.
Doré Gold: The Raw Intermediate
Doré is a semi-pure alloy produced by small-scale miners or local smelters, typically containing 70–90% gold, with silver, copper, and other metals as impurities. It is:
- Irregular in shape and color
- Unstamped and unassayed to international standards
- Not accepted by LBMA or major refineries
- Common in informal trade across West and East Africa
While doré has value, it cannot be exported as investment-grade material without further processing.
Refined Gold: The Global Standard
Refined gold is purified to 999.9 fineness (99.99% pure) through fire assay or electrolytic methods at accredited facilities. It is:
- Cast into uniform bars or grains
- Stamped with serial number, weight, and refiner mark
- Backed by assay certificates from PMMC, SABS, or ISO 17025 labs
- Accepted by all major refineries and central banks
AFRICA GOLD ensures all exported gold meets this standard.
Why the Distinction Matters to Buyers
- Pricing: Refined gold trades at LBMA spot minus small premium; doré is discounted heavily for impurities.
- Compliance: Only refined gold with accredited documentation clears Dubai, Shanghai, or New York refineries.
- Risk: Doré shipments often fail intake due to inconsistent purity or lack of chain of custody.
AFRICA GOLD avoids these risks by refining all material before export—never shipping doré internationally.
Conclusion
Doré gold is a starting point; refined gold is the destination. For international buyers, only refined material offers liquidity, compliance, and trust. AFRICA GOLD’s commitment to exporting exclusively refined, accredited gold ensures every shipment meets the highest global standards turning African supply into universally accepted value.
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