Paste the elemental percentages from an XRF gold test to check the total reported composition, calculate a simple karat equivalent from Au percentage and understand what the individual alloy elements mean.
Enter the elemental percentages shown on the report.
The karat conversion is a simple Au% × 24 / 100 calculation. It should not override the actual instrument report, calibration information or professional interpretation.
XRF works by detecting characteristic X-rays associated with elements in the sample. The measured spectrum can be used to identify elements, and calibrated instruments can quantify concentrations. GIA describes XRF as a nondestructive analytical method used for precious-metal testing. 3
This is a conversion of the reported gold percentage, not an independent assay. The report's actual methodology and calibration remain important.
Silver, copper, zinc, palladium and other elements can reveal something about the alloy's chemistry. Two items with the same Au percentage can still have different alloy formulations.
XRF results can be influenced by the instrument, calibration, surface condition, geometry and the material region contributing to the measurement. Surface coatings can therefore matter. Multiple locations may be useful for an item suspected to be plated or heterogeneous.
Look beyond the Au number. Check whether the alloy elements make sense, whether several test points agree, whether the item is layered, and whether the instrument report states the relevant calibration or measurement conditions.
Au is the chemical symbol for gold.
Multiply Au percentage by 24 and divide by 100 for a simple karat equivalent.
XRF is sensitive to the material in its effective measurement region, so surface coatings can affect the result.
Properly calibrated XRF can provide quantitative elemental analysis, but conditions and instrument methodology matter.
Rounding, reporting conventions, unreported elements and analytical setup can affect the total.