At Mid-States, we specialize in precise precious metal refining for dealers and businesses across the U.S. Whether you're a jeweler with bench filings and polishing sweeps, a pawnbroker with karat gold jewelry scrap, a metal recycler handling by-products from the electronics industry or a buyer or generator of dental gold scrap, we provide prompt processing and payments based on the industries most accurate assay analysis.
We pride ourselves on offering same-day settlements for your smaller lots to help you maintain access to maximum cashflow. From melt to assay, our process is built for speed and reliability, giving you the confidence to plan ahead and grow your business with ease. No delays. No guesswork. Just results.
With over 40 years of experience and thousands of clients nationwide, our Chicago-based facilities are known for their transparent business practices, and operating under the highest ethical standards of integrity. This page walks you through our refining process, who we serve, and why businesses choose Mid-States — when every gram counts.
What is Precious Metal Refining?
The precious metals refining process begins with the melting, sampling, and analysing the pure metal content of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium contained from unwanted jewelry, scrap materials, or other by-products from manufacturing.
Jewelers and pawnbrokers often accumulate significant amounts of scrap metal through repairs, resizing, liquidating outdated inventory, or purchasing unwanted jewelry from their customers. Refining this scrap is required for the recovery of valuable metals to be recycled and used in the manufacturing of new jewelry and even products used in the field of aerospace.
When it comes to processing precious metals, terms like “refinery” and “smelter” are often used interchangeably—but they’re not the same. Smelting is the process of melting down materials—often raw ores or mixed-metal scrap to form a homogenous metal alloy. The focus is a pyrometallurgical-based reduction and is strictly for the purpose of forming a metal alloy. Refining, however, goes beyond basic melting and alloying and implores the chemical dissolution and precipitation of select elements. Once segregated from its original base metal components, the gold, silver, platinum, and palladium are further upgraded, purified, and put into a metallic or fabricated chemical form to be used for future users.
Our Precious Metal Refining Process – Accuracy, Transparency & Speed
Our process offers the highest levels of transparency and integrity involving four key steps: weighing, melting, assaying, and sale for final payment. Our customers’ precious metal material is weighed on receipt, documented, and photographed.
All weighing and documentation is verified by two persons. Our melting department professionals will once again confirm the weight received and then melt the material into a homogenous alloy and draw a molten metal pin sample before pouring it into an ingot. The pin sample is taken to the lab, where it will first be analyzed using XRF to provide our technicians the approximate metal content associated with that melt.
Note:(XRF (X-ray fluorescence) is the emission of characteristic "secondary" (or fluorescent) X-Rays from an individual element that has been excited by bombardment with high-energy X-Rays).
The preliminary X-Ray results also allow us to provide our customers with a meaningful preliminary value of their scrap materials, should they desire to take a partial “advance payment” against their final settlement. After completion of preliminary “instrumentation analysis”, the sample goes into the Laboratory for proper Corrected Fire Assay analysis
Fire assay is a precise, lab-based method for measuring the content of precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum in a sample. This technique determines the exact amount of gold, silver, or other precious metals present in the sample. It’s a method that dates back thousands of years, and is still considered the most accurate testing method in the refining industry.
Clients are welcome to observe each step, from receiving and weighing to melting and sampling. On completion of the Fire Assay, our in-house trading team helps you price your metal at the current market, or can apply any metal pricing that you’ve previously hedged/locked. Ultimately, clients will receive a detailed settlement report outlining all details related to that refining lot. Final payment is available by check, wire transfer, or ACH. We’re also able to return fine gold, silver, platinum, and palladium in the form of government, bank, or privately issued bullion investment products or grain.
Industries We Serve – Jewelers, Pawnbrokers, Manufacturers & More
We serve various sectors that generate precious metal waste — and we tailor our refining services accordingly. Our specialty is with jewelers and pawnbrokers.
We process and recycle almost all types of scrap metal containing gold, silver, platinum and palladium. Our clients are able to mail or deliver these scrap materials to our facility, where we process it in various forms.
| Industry | Common Inputs |
|---|---|
| Jewelers | Bench filings, polishing sweeps, scrap karat gold and platinum jewelry |
| Pawnbrokers | Karat gold and platinum jewelry scrap, bullion coins and bars |
| Dental | Crown and bridge, post-cremation dental gold scrap |
| Industrial & Photographic | Reflective and conductive coatings, paints, film, by-product residues and sludges from electo-plating, electrolytic flake from photographic solutions. |
| Electronics | Silver and tungsten silver contacts, plated circutiry and wire, platinum thermocouple assemblies. |
What We Refine – Accepted Metals
We accept a wide variety of precious metals from trusted industries nationwide. Below is a quick guide to what we refine.
Gold: Karat Gold Jewelry Scrap (6k–24k), Bench filings, Bullion coins, Dental Gold Scrap
Silver: Sterling Silver Jewelry, Flatware, Holloware
Platinum Group Metals (PGM): Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium, Iridium
If you’re ever unsure whether a certain material qualifies for refinery, please reach out to us! Our team is happy to clarify any questions.
Nationwide Reach with Local Expertise
Our Des Plaines, IL, and Chicago, IL locations are where we assay, refine, and process all materials. However, we service clients nationwide – from Mississippi to Montana. We offer secure, insured shipping labels with guided client support for packing and documentation. Regardless of distance, payouts are fast, within a few business days. We treat every client’s materials with the same level of accuracy and care, regardless of industry or location.
Why Thousands Trust Mid-States?
Mid-States Recycling & Refining officially opened our doors in 1982, but our history spans even before then. Our company grew out of the Simmons Refining Co., which began earning its reputation as an accurate and trusted refiner in the late 1960s.
In addition to our open-door policy, we combine centuries-old practices with cutting-edge technology to ensure the utmost accuracy and transparency.
Clients receive custom solutions, including choice over their form of settlement.
Our clients know and trust us, often leaving raving testimonials and reviews.
I've been working with Mid-States for a year and a half. They are great and I couldn't ask for better customer service. The reporting is outstanding. Jack is hands-on and very good with helping people understand the process.
I've used Mid-States Recycling & Refining for 20 years. Mid-States is accurate in their assays and they have a very quick turnaround. I never have to worry about the check bouncing. I love the staff. They are exceptional in informing me of what my lot is doing and how it's moving through the process.
Our employees stay with us, too. We proudly have virtually no turnover.
Precious Metal Refining FAQs
We’ve compiled some of the most common questions we get when it comes to refining precious metals.
What is the most accurate method of precious metal analysis?
Fire assay is the most accurate method. In the fire assay process, completed within our Chicago-based facility, we melt and dissolve a sample and precipitate the fine metal contained.
How long does the gold refining process take?
Gold refining at Mid-States Recycling and Refining depends on the type of gold that’s being processed. Karat gold scrap can take as little as 1-5 business days, whereas gold from jeweler’s rugs or carpeting could take up to 10 weeks.
Can I send mixed metal scrap for refining?
You can send Mid-States Recycling mixed metal scrap. We will process multiple types of precious metal materials within a given scrap lot, as long as it results in a financial benefit for our customers.
Do you provide assay reports before payment?
We provide a detailed assay report prior to payment. Additionally, samples from your melt are always available to you for independent, third-party analysis.
Is precious metal refining tax-free?
When refined precious metals (gold, silver, platinum, etc.) are sold at a profit, the IRS classifies them as collectibles and they are generally subject to gains.
Who can sell precious metals for refining in the U.S.?
While our consumer base is from across the U.S., we only deal with precious metals at the wholesale and dealer level. Specifically, our customer base consists of jewelers and pawnbrokers. We do not deal directly with the public.
How do I ship precious metals securely for refining?
The most secure and economical way to ship your precious metals is through our Insured contracted Express Courier Services. We arrange for pick-up at your secure location, and your package is delivered to us the very next morning. Additionally, as a Mid-States customer, your shipping rate has a built-in 30% discount to normal Courier rates. Shipping charges are conveniently applied to your final settlement volume. You may also use Insured Registered Mail Service through the US Postal Service; however, you should expect transit times of 4 days or more for delivery.
What types of reports will I receive after refining?
Your completed Settlement Report will include everything including a description and the weight received, the after-processing weight, final assay, refining terms including the details for the payable percentages, processing and assay charges, and with the metal prices your payment was based on.
Request a Secure Pickup
Looking to get started with Mid-states Recycling and Refining services for your precious metals? We’ll help arrange a quick and secure delivery to our facility. Contact us today.
