Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

libra fina

English translation:

pound avoirdupois

Added to glossary by Charles Davis
Feb 26, 2018 20:50
6 yrs ago
3 viewers *
Spanish term

libra fina

Spanish to English Tech/Engineering Mining & Minerals / Gems
I am translating a presentation on mining (metals and mineral) in Bolivia. One of the acronyms is LF, ***libra fina***.
The only reference I could find is "troy weight"
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peso_troy

But this doesn't sounds quite right to me.... Would it just be translated as "pound" or "troy pound"? Is it a special term used for precious metals?
I appreciate any help on this one.
Thanks,
Kate
Proposed translations (English)
4 +2 pound avoirdupois
Change log

Mar 5, 2018 06:38: Charles Davis Created KOG entry

Discussion

Cornelius Gillen Feb 26, 2018:
I think troy pound (or pound troy) might be OK; see this article on fineness
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fineness

Proposed translations

+2
43 mins
Selected

pound avoirdupois

It's not a troy pound; it's an "ordinary" pound, that is, avoirdupois. This is perhaps surprising, since the "libra fina" is used in Bolivia to quote metal prices, and troy weight is commonly used precisely for precious metals. Nevertheless, it is definitely so.

A troy ounce is 31.103 4768 grams, and a troy pound is 12 troy ounces, so a troy pound is 373.241 7216 grams.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_weight#Units_of_measureme...

But there are plenty of Bolivian sources that show that a "libra fina" is 454 grams, not 373. Here's one:

"Nota: 1 Onza troy = 31,10 gramos / 1 Libra fina = 454 gramos"
http://plataformaenergetica.org/sites/default/files/CIFRAS_N...

As you can see here, they use the word "troy" when it's troy weight. 454 grams (actually about 453.6) is the equivalent of a pound avoidupois.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avoirdupois#Post-Elizabethan_u...


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Note added at 58 mins (2018-02-26 21:49:14 GMT)
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You could just say "pound"; after all, in everyday life this is what we mean when we refer to a pound (weight). But since troy weight is often used for metals, I think it would be better to specify.
Peer comment(s):

agree neilmac : Minefield...
13 hrs
You bet! It came as a surprise to me, I can tell you. Cheers, Neil ;-)
agree Sid Ralph (X)
14 hrs
Thanks, Sid :-)
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "thank you! I searched high and low for this answer, so I am happy to have help on this."
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