A nickel crucible used for melting an analytical sample in the
pretreatment of the analytical sample, characterized in that the purity
of the nickel crucible is 99.9999 wt % or higher. Also provided is a
method of analysis, comprising melting a sample by the use of the nickel
crucible for melting having a purity of 99.9999 wt % or higher, and
analyzing the melt to thereby obtain an analytical result in which the
respective lower limits of determination of Mn, Al, Si, Mg, Pb, Fe, Co,
Ti, Cu, Cr, Zr, Mo, and W are Mn: 5 wtppm, Al: 10 wtppm, Si: 10 wtppm,
Mg: 5 wtppm, Pb: 5 wtppm, Fe: 5 wtppm, Co: 5 wtppm, Ti: 20 wtppm, Cu: 20
wtppm, Cr: 10 wtppm, Zr: 5 wtppm, Mo: 2 wtppm, and W:10 wtppm. In light
of the recent analytical technology demanded of fast and accurate
measurement of high purity materials, high purity analysis is attained
through inhibition of mixing of impurities from the crucible.