Extract gold without using mercury

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	Extract gold without using mercury « on: December 12, 2010, 09:18:31 am »

The attached article is from

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www.geus.dk

and it details a method to extract gold from concentrate without using mercury. It works! See attached photo.

Note: unnecessary to remove the concentrate/borax from plastic bag; just put the bag into ceramic bowl, the plastic will vaporize in the flame. Apply heat gradually from a distance first till the mixture starts to melt, or the flame jet may blow off some stuff after the plastic bag melts.

Question: After the yellow glob had cooled, the surface of it is wrinkled and cracked-like. I had expected it to be smoother. Is this normal or does it indicate that the Au still has impurities in it?

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	Re: Extract gold without using mercury « Reply #1 on: December 12, 2010, 11:26:46 am »

Thanks for the share! I to would like to know more?

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	Re: Extract gold without using mercury « Reply #2 on: December 12, 2010, 12:58:45 pm »

	Quote:	Posted by trashdigger
Thanks for the share! I to would like to know more?

You're most welcome. There isn't much more to know. I tried out the method and it works. The only thing I didn't mention previously is that prospecting is hard work and my back aches like heck! Cheesy

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	Re: Extract gold without using mercury « Reply #3 on: December 12, 2010, 02:30:56 pm »

I melt down Placer gold from time to time.

New Mexico Gold is up in the 90% purity.

Balance is copper , Silver and other.

Last batch was 94%.

I use Borax as the flux and it works most well.

Your question about the Smoothness of the Bead or Button as it is called can be caused be a few things.

1. Temp, you did not get it quite hot enough.

2. Impurities not driven off, or hot enough to flow away.

Gold Purity had little to do with it.

8K gold will flow fine if Hot Enough.

GOLD KARAT INFORMATION CHART

Karat Gold Parts Gold Percentage Gold Normal European Stamping
9 kt 9 in 24 37.50% 375
10 kt 10 in 24 41.67% 416
12 kt 12 in 24 50% 500
14 kt 14 in 24 58.33% 583 or 585
18 kt 18 in 24 75% 750
22 kt 22 in 24 91.67% 917
24 kt 24 in 24 99.99% 999 or .99999

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	Re: Extract gold without using mercury « Reply #4 on: December 12, 2010, 03:42:53 pm »

Putting a pinch of borax in the crucible wa always the last step before I would cast gold or silver. Works quite well as Homefire said.

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	Re: Extract gold without using mercury « Reply #5 on: December 12, 2010, 09:59:36 pm »

Thanks for the info, Homefire!. I believe both the reasons you gave are the cause for the lack of smoothness on the button, especially the flame not being hot enough. Will have to work on that!

Being a newbie to this field, I was hesitant to use too high a flame for fear of vaporizing the gold. I found out what temperature gold vaporizes at, but gold with borax melts at a lower temperature than gold alone. Taking that into consideration, is it logical to say that gold with borax also can vaporize at lower temperatures than gold alone? If so, what is the best working temperature?

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	Re: Extract gold without using mercury « Reply #6 on: December 13, 2010, 08:31:48 am »

"Being a newbie to this field, I was hesitant to use too high a flame for fear of vaporizing the gold. I found out what temperature gold vaporizes at, but gold with borax melts at a lower temperature than gold alone. Taking that into consideration, is it logical to say that gold with borax also can vaporize at lower temperatures than gold alone? If so, what is the best working temperature?"

The Gold does Not melt at a lower temp.

The Borax just Conducts and Transfers the Heat better.

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	Re: Extract gold without using mercury « Reply #7 on: December 13, 2010, 08:44:17 am »

Very interesting Post. Thats what I like about this site. There something about everything on here. Keep up the good work and keep us informed.

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	Re: Extract gold without using mercury « Reply #8 on: December 13, 2010, 09:36:41 am »

	Quote:	Posted by homefire
"Being a newbie to this field, I was hesitant to use too high a flame for fear of vaporizing the gold. I found out what temperature gold vaporizes at, but gold with borax melts at a lower temperature than gold alone. Taking that into consideration, is it logical to say that gold with borax also can vaporize at lower temperatures than gold alone? If so, what is the best working temperature?" The Gold does Not melt at a lower temp. The Borax just Conducts and Transfers the Heat better.

I believe you are right, Homefire. Your years of experience in melting and smelting shines here. The .pdf article (wrongly) stated:

"The basic principle behind the method is that borax reduces the melting point of gold. The melting point of gold is 1064?C, which is a much higher temperature than can be obtained by inexpensive burners. By adding borax the melting temperature decreases."

This misled me to think the flux really did lower the melting temp of gold. Grrr!

All readers please take note of that erroneous quote. The method of extracting gold itself is sound, but NOT the accompanying explanation.

	Quote:	Posted by LeRoy Silver
Very interesting Post. Thats what I like about this site. There something about everything on here. Keep up the good work and keep us informed.

You could probably get just about any info you require if the right guy responds. Enjoy!

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	Re: Extract gold without using mercury « Reply #9 on: December 13, 2010, 07:14:10 pm »

I have melted, 1/2 Toz buttons with nothing but Propane and Air.

Borax Flux, Activated Carbon (BONE ASH, pulls out some of the NON Gold products.)

All the Junk ends up as a slage on top of the Borax Glass in the end.

If you Really want to get into this, Go to Gold Refiners forum. You can spend days reading in there and not know it all.

I don't! I just find what I need to know.

jim

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