A furnace for preparing fused samples, the furnace comprising: a housing; a carousel positioned within the housing and arranged to rotate about an axis, the carousel having a plurality of receiving stations, the receiving stations being arranged such that the crucibles with the samples and also casting dishes can be received by the carousel; a heater arranged to heat the samples to a temperature that is sufficient to melt the samples in the crucibles; and at least one mechanism for: loading and unloading the carousel with the crucibles; loading and unloading the carousel with the casting dishes; and decanting the melted samples from the crucibles into the casting dishes; wherein the housing has an access port in a side wall portion through which in use the crucibles and the casting dishes are loaded and unloaded in a horizontal direction; characterized in that the at least one mechanism comprises a first arm having a portion for supporting a crucible and a casting dish and being arranged for contraction and extension along a length of the arm whereby the first arm is arranged such that a crucible and a casting dish can be moved between a receiving station of the carousel and a position that is remote from the carousel, the first arm being arranged such that a crucible and a respective casting dish can be moved simultaneously between a receiving station of the carousel and a position that is remote from the carousel; and in that the at least one mechanism comprises a second arm having a portion for supporting a crucible and a casting dish and being arranged for contraction and extension along a length of the arm whereby the second arm is arranged such that a crucible and a casting dish can be moved between a receiving station of the carousel and a position that is remote from the carousel, the second arm being arranged such that a crucible and a respective casting dish can be moved between a receiving station of the carousel and a position that is remote from the carousel. a housing; a carousel positioned within the housing and arranged to rotate about an axis, the carousel having a plurality of receiving stations, the receiving stations being arranged such that the crucibles with the samples and also casting dishes can be received by the carousel; a heater arranged to heat the samples to a temperature that is sufficient to melt the samples in the crucibles; and at least one mechanism for: loading and unloading the carousel with the crucibles; loading and unloading the carousel with the casting dishes; and decanting the melted samples from the crucibles into the casting dishes; wherein the housing has an access port in a side wall portion through which in use the crucibles and the casting dishes are loaded and unloaded in a horizontal direction; characterized in that the at least one mechanism comprises a first arm having a portion for supporting a crucible and a casting dish and being arranged for contraction and extension along a length of the arm whereby the first arm is arranged such that a crucible and a casting dish can be moved between a receiving station of the carousel and a position that is remote from the carousel, the first arm being arranged such that a crucible and a respective casting dish can be moved simultaneously between a receiving station of the carousel and a position that is remote from the carousel; and in that the at least one mechanism comprises a second arm having a portion for supporting a crucible and a casting dish and being arranged for contraction and extension along a length of the arm whereby the second arm is arranged such that a crucible and a casting dish can be moved between a receiving station of the carousel and a position that is remote from the carousel, the second arm being arranged such that a crucible and a respective casting dish can be moved between a receiving station of the carousel and a position that is remote from the carousel. loading and unloading the carousel with the crucibles; loading and unloading the carousel with the casting dishes; and decanting the melted samples from the crucibles into the casting dishes; wherein the housing has an access port in a side wall portion through which in use the crucibles and the casting dishes are loaded and unloaded in a horizontal direction; characterized in that the at least one mechanism comprises a first arm having a portion for supporting a crucible and a casting dish and being arranged for contraction and extension along a length of the arm whereby the first arm is arranged such that a crucible and a casting dish can be moved between a receiving station of the carousel and a position that is remote from the carousel, the first arm being arranged such that a crucible and a respective casting dish can be moved simultaneously between a receiving station of the carousel and a position that is remote from the carousel; and in that the at least one mechanism comprises a second arm having a portion for supporting a crucible and a casting dish and being arranged for contraction and extension along a length of the arm whereby the second arm is arranged such that a crucible and a casting dish can be moved between a receiving station of the carousel and a position that is remote from the carousel, the second arm being arranged such that a crucible and a respective casting dish can be moved between a receiving station of the carousel and a position that is remote from the carousel.