Long Tons (long-ton) to Troy Ounces (ozt) conversion

What is the Long Ton?

The long ton is a unit of mass in the British imperial system, historically used for weighing bulk commodities such as coal, ore, and shipping cargo. It is equal to 2,240 pounds and remains familiar in the United Kingdom and in maritime contexts.

Definition

The long ton is defined as exactly 2,240 pounds avoirdupois. Since one pound equals 0.45359237 kg exactly, its SI value is:

$$1\ \text{long-ton} = 1016.05\ \text{kg}$$

Equivalently, the long ton equals 20 hundredweight (cwt) of 112 lb each, distinguishing it from the 2,000 lb US short ton and the 1,000 kg metric tonne.

Origin and History

The long ton descends from the medieval English "tun," a large cask used to ship wine, whose full weight was standardized in trade. The avoirdupois system fixed the hundredweight at 112 pounds (eight stone of 14 lb), and twenty of these made the ton, giving 2,240 lb. This "long" hundredweight and ton became the standard for British commerce and were carried throughout the Commonwealth and colonial trade.

Law and Notable Facts

The long ton is the British/imperial ton, contrasted with the 2,000 lb US short ton and the 1,000 kg metric tonne (megagram). It is legally recognized in the United Kingdom, though the metric tonne has largely replaced it for official trade. Notably, the long ton (1016 kg) sits remarkably close to the metric tonne (1000 kg), differing by only about 1.6%, which is why "ton" and "tonne" are often used loosely as near-equivalents in shipping.

Real-World Examples and Conversions

• A long ton equals 1016.05 kg, about 16 kg heavier than a metric tonne.
• Ship displacement and cargo were traditionally quoted in long tons; a 10,000 long ton vessel carries roughly 10,160 metric tonnes.
• One long ton (2,240 lb) is 240 lb heavier than one US short ton (2,000 lb), a 12% difference.
• A long ton of coal (1016 kg) is a typical unit still cited in older British mining and heating records.

What is the Troy Ounce?

The troy ounce is a unit of mass used almost exclusively for precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. It is the standard weight quoted on global bullion markets.

Definition

The troy ounce is defined as exactly 480 grains, which equals 31.1034768 grams:

$$1\ \text{ozt} = 0.0311035\ \text{kg}$$

By definition, 1 troy ounce = 480 grains = 31.1034768 g exactly, and 12 troy ounces make one troy pound (≈373.242 g). Note that the troy ounce is heavier than the more familiar avoirdupois ounce (≈28.3495 g).

Origin and History

The troy system takes its name from the French market town of Troyes, a major medieval trading hub. It descends from the Roman monetary system and was standardized in England for coinage and precious metals, later adopted across Europe and the English-speaking world.

Law and Notable Facts

The troy ounce remains the legal basis for bullion trading and coinage weights; in the United States it is codified for precious-metal transactions. A curious consequence is that a pound of gold (troy, ~373 g) actually weighs less than a pound of feathers (avoirdupois, ~454 g).

Real-World Examples and Conversions

A standard Good Delivery gold bar weighs about 400 troy ounces (≈12.4 kg). A 1 oz American Gold Eagle contains one troy ounce (31.1 g) of gold. When gold is quoted at "$2,000 per ounce," that means per troy ounce, not the avoirdupois ounce.