This International Standard specifies methods for the determination of moisture content of a lot of copper, lead, zinc or nickel concentrate, defined as the percentage mass loss of the moisture test portion under the conditions of drying specified in this document.

In order to obtain an unbiased estimate of the metal content of the lot, it is important that the same drying conditions are used for the determination of bulk and hygroscopic moisture or for preparing a predried test portion.

This International Standard is not applicable to drying samples used for determination of volatile elements such as mercury and sulfur. Such samples are allowed to dry at ambient temperature, and a hygroscopic moisture determination is carried out according to ISO 9599 at the time of chemical analysis.