Tungsten Gold Bars: The $100 Million Fraud XRF Can’t Detect Alone
Tungsten Gold Bar Fraud: Why XRF Alone Isn’t Enough | Pico Instruments PI PICO INSTRUMENTS The Problem The Solution Equipment Testing Process Contact Tungsten Gold Bars: The $100 Million Fraud XRF Can’t Detect Alone Sophisticated counterfeiters are fooling single-method testing. Discover why your business needs dual verification to protect against tungsten-filled gold bars. PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS TODAY LEARN ABOUT DUAL TESTING The Silent Crisis in Precious Metals The Perfect Crime Tungsten presents a nearly perfect deception for gold counterfeiters due to its density being virtually identical to gold: Gold density: 19.32 g/cm³ Tungsten density: 19.25 g/cm³ Difference: Less than 0.4% This microscopic difference means tungsten-filled bars pass traditional density tests and feel correct to even experienced dealers. Real Cases, Real Losses From Manhattan’s Diamond District to China’s lending institutions, tungsten-filled gold bars have cost investors and businesses over $100 million in documented losses. In one case, a Manhattan jewelry merchant discovered he’d purchased $100,000 worth of fake gold bars from a trusted source. Each counterfeit 10-ounce bar purchased for $18,000 was actually worth only $3,600. Why XRF Alone Fails XRF analyzers have one critical limitation that counterfeiters exploit: penetration depth. XRF penetrates only 10-20 microns into gold Counterfeiters use 50-100+ micron gold plating Even advanced XRF shows “999.9 Fine Gold” for tungsten-cored bars XRF simply cannot see deep enough to detect the fraud. The Dual-Verification Solution Sciaps XRF + Sigma Metalytics: The Complete Protection Professional gold authentication requires a two-layer defense that combines surface chemistry analysis with volumetric integrity testing. Surface Analysis Sciaps XRF analyzers verify surface purity and alloy composition with laboratory-grade accuracy in seconds. Volumetric Testing Sigma Metalytics tests electrical properties through the entire thickness, detecting tungsten cores and hollow bars. Dual Verification Combined testing provides complete confidence in both surface and internal composition of precious metals. Testing Method What It Detects What It Misses Protection Level XRF Only Surface purity, alloy composition, karat rating Tungsten cores, hollow bars, internal composition Partial Dual Testing (XRF + Sigma) Surface AND internal composition, electrical properties, density verification Nothing – complete protection Complete Recommended Equipment SCIAPS Sciaps X-200 XRF Analyzer Cost-effective professional-grade testing with comparable speed and precision to top-of-the-line competing brands. Detector: 20 mm² silicon drift detector (SDD) Excitation Source: 50 kV, 200 µA Rhodium or Gold anode Fast analysis on all precious metal alloy families Lightweight, small form-factor design SIGMA METALYTICS Sigma Metalytics PMV Pro Tests the characteristic resistivity of samples to determine if internal composition matches surface claims. Four-layer testing protocol Tests through plastic cases and holders No chemicals or complicated calibration Comprehensive precious metals database ROI Analysis: Equipment Cost vs. Counterfeit Loss Equipment Investment: $25,000-30,000 USD for complete dual-testing setup Cost of ONE Counterfeit: $70,000-80,000 USD for a single 1kg tungsten-filled gold bar Payback Period: Preventing just ONE major counterfeit covers the entire equipment investment Dual-Testing Protocol 1 Visual & Physical Inspection Check weight, hallmarks, serial numbers, and packaging for obvious signs of tampering. 2 XRF Surface Analysis Verify surface purity and alloy composition using Sciaps XRF analyzer (1-2 seconds per item). 3 Volumetric Integrity Testing Use Sigma Metalytics PMV Pro to verify internal composition (15-30 seconds per item). 4 Documentation & Quarantine Document all results, quarantine suspicious items, and notify authorities if fraud is suspected. Professional gold testing using dual-verification equipment Don’t Wait Until You Discover Your First Counterfeit Protect your business, your reputation, and your customers with our complete precious metals authentication solutions. CALL US NOW: +971 54 347 0068 +971 54 347 0068 rashad@picoinstrument.com www.picoinstrument.com Pico Instruments Authorized distributor for Sciaps and Sigma Metalytics across the GCC region. Providing complete solutions for precious metals authentication since 2010. Quick Links The Problem The Solution Equipment Testing Process Contact Us Our Partners Sciaps Sigma Metalytics Contact Info +971 54 347 0068 rashad@picoinstrument.com www.picoinstrument.com © 2023 Pico Instruments. All rights reserved. | GCC’s Leading Precious Metals Testing Solutions