A fluxer for preparing an analytical sample by flux fusion, the fluxer comprising: a furnace chamber provided with at least one heating element positioned therein to heat an interior of the furnace chamber , the furnace chamber having an access opening and being configured to be heated at a fusion temperature between 800°C and 1300°C; a sample support assembly comprising: a support frame ; and a crucible support operatively connected to the support frame for supporting at least one crucible , the at least one crucible being adapted to receive an inorganic sample, a flux material and an oxidizing agent; and a pre-heating compartment having a compartment body adapted to cooperate with the furnace chamber and configured to be pre-heated to an oxidizing temperature between 150°C and 1000°C, wherein, the pre-heating compartment is operable in a pre-heating position where the compartment body at least partially covers the access opening of the furnace chamber , the compartment body being shaped and sized to house the at least one crucible therein such that the heat being generated by the heating elements can be transferred out of the furnace chamber and into the compartment body via heat-transfer through the access opening when the pre-heating compartment is in the pre-heating position to enable the oxidizing agent to oxidize non-oxidized and/or partially oxidized compounds present in the inorganic sample, wherein the at least one crucible is configured to be agitated and heated in the furnace chamber to obtain a fused mixture, the fused mixture comprising a fused flux material having the inorganic sample solubilized therein, wherein the fluxer is an electric fluxer, and the at least one heating element is an electrical heating element . a furnace chamber provided with at least one heating element positioned therein to heat an interior of the furnace chamber , the furnace chamber having an access opening and being configured to be heated at a fusion temperature between 800°C and 1300°C; a sample support assembly comprising: a support frame ; and a crucible support operatively connected to the support frame for supporting at least one crucible , the at least one crucible being adapted to receive an inorganic sample, a flux material and an oxidizing agent; and a support frame ; and a crucible support operatively connected to the support frame for supporting at least one crucible , the at least one crucible being adapted to receive an inorganic sample, a flux material and an oxidizing agent; and a pre-heating compartment having a compartment body adapted to cooperate with the furnace chamber and configured to be pre-heated to an oxidizing temperature between 150°C and 1000°C, wherein, the pre-heating compartment is operable in a pre-heating position where the compartment body at least partially covers the access opening of the furnace chamber , the compartment body being shaped and sized to house the at least one crucible therein such that the heat being generated by the heating elements can be transferred out of the furnace chamber and into the compartment body via heat-transfer through the access opening when the pre-heating compartment is in the pre-heating position to enable the oxidizing agent to oxidize non-oxidized and/or partially oxidized compounds present in the inorganic sample, wherein the at least one crucible is configured to be agitated and heated in the furnace chamber to obtain a fused mixture, the fused mixture comprising a fused flux material having the inorganic sample solubilized therein, wherein the fluxer is an electric fluxer, and the at least one heating element is an electrical heating element . <EOS>