What does scorifier mean?
A scorifier is a vessel used during the metallurgical process of scorification, in which a small sample of ore is heated to oxidize its components and fuse the unwanted material into slag. The resulting metal-rich bead or globule could then be weighed and examined to determine the ore's metal content. Scorifiers are chiefly associated with assaying, the analysis of ores and minerals, and are encountered in historical metallurgy, mineralogy, and related technical literature. The word is uncommon outside these specialist contexts. Its name reflects its purpose: it holds material that is being made to form slag, drawing on the same root as scoria, the word for the dross or residue left when ore is smelted. Today, modern laboratories may use instrumental and chemical methods instead, but scorification remains important in the history of metallurgical analysis.
nounA vessel used in metallurgy to hold ore or mineral material while it is being scorified during the assaying process.
- A vessel used to hold ore or mineral material during scorification.
"The assayer transferred the powdered ore into a scorifier and heated it until the unwanted material fused into slag."
"The assayer carefully placed the powdered ore in the scorifier before heating it."
"A scorifier is traditionally used when an analyst needs to concentrate the metal in a small sample of ore."
The plural is used when referring to several such vessels.
"The laboratory stored its scorifiers near the assay furnace."
Scorification was an early assaying technique that separated metal from ore by heating a small sample until the unwanted material fused into slag.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does scorifier come from?
Scorifier entered English through French scorificateur, from scorifier, ultimately derived from Latin scoria, meaning dross or slag. Latin scoria was borrowed from Greek skoria, a word associated with rubbish, refuse, or the waste remaining from a processing operation. The metallurgical sense developed as scorification came to mean heating ore with a flux so that unwanted material combined into a slag-like mass.
Related word forms
How scorifier is actually used
This is specialist metallurgical terminology, chiefly associated with historical and traditional mineral assaying. It is uncommon in general English.