Patent ID: 8211366

Claim:
A precious-metal testing apparatus adapted to analyze an impurity content of a precious metal sample, which comprises: a test probe having a probe end and a connection end, wherein the test probe comprises a housing and a cartridge comprising a conductive member, a supply of an electrolyte component, and a casing retaining the electrolyte component, a portion of the conductive member, and an end of a fibrous tip at the probe end in fluid communication with the electrolyte component, wherein the cartridge is retained by the housing and wherein the fibrous tip is electrically conductive when a sufficient amount of the electrolyte component is present therein; a meter adapted to measure an electrical resistance of a precious-metal sample through the test probe; and an electrical connection that electrically associates the conductive member of the cartridge, which extends through an end thereof opposite the probe end, with an external conductive component that extends to the meter, wherein the electrical connection is located outside the casing that contains the electrolyte component.