Convert Ton (Assay) (US) (AT (US)) to Metric Ton (t) instantly.
About these units
Ton (Assay) (US) (AT (US))
The US assay ton is a specialized unit used in mining and metallurgy for evaluating ore grades. It is defined as 29.166⅔ grams, a very small mass chosen to simplify calculations relating assay results to tons of ore. The idea is that if an assay ton of sample yields 1 milligram of precious metal, then one actual ton of ore contains 1 ounce of that metal. This scaling makes laboratory results directly translatable to mining yields. While obsolete in modern industrial practice, where metric units dominate, the assay ton remains important in historical mining records and for researchers studying early industrial metallurgy.
Metric Ton (t)
The metric ton, or tonne, equals 1,000 kilograms and is used for measuring large masses such as vehicles, industrial shipments, agricultural yields, waste disposal, and construction materials. Its convenient decimal relationship with kilograms makes it easy to use in logistics, industry, and environmental studies. Many countries express carbon emissions in tonnes of CO₂, linking the unit directly to global sustainability efforts. The metric ton contrasts with the US short ton and UK long ton—its exact definition prevents ambiguity in international trade. Its adoption worldwide demonstrates the advantages of standardized mass units in a global economy.