Metallurgist's evaluation

ASSAY

Think of a test used to determine the purity or composition of metals, often involving heat or chemicals. Jewelers and miners rely on this process.

A metallurgist tests ores and metals to determine their composition and purity, and the term for this evaluation is "assay." The word fits neatly as both a technical process (analyzing metal content) and a concise crossword answer. No wordplay or tricks here—just a direct match between the clue’s definition and the answer.