In Reply to: Re: Mineralisation and nugget size
posted by Eric Foster on June 06, 1998 at 06:36:13

Eric,

Glad you have an interest in this forum, perhaps we can all benefit from you expertise. The test piece was 837 grains, 3'4" X 1'2" X 3/8", MOL, compact shape, 16K (MOL, + silver content). A typical nugget for the area, higher silver content than nuggets found in the White Hills, and Bradshaw range of Arizona. I plan to test again with that nugget, and a Canadian Maple Leaf (1 oz), a Canadian nickel, and a 11 oz 3 dwt Australian nugget. A local sand and gravel company gave me permission to play in their white builders sand after hours, it should provide a stable test medium, free of conductive minerals. If you have any suggestions, e-mail me and I will be happy to include them if practical, given my limited resources.

I consulted the enclyclopedia for a more precise definition alkali, I am not a chemist, but I know the effects they have on VLF detectors in general:

Chemistry.

1. A carbonate or hydroxide of an alkali metal, the aqueous solution of which is bitter, slippery, caustic, and characteristically basic in reactions.

2. Any of various soluble mineral salts found in natural water and arid soils.

3. Alkali metal: Any of a group of soft, white, low-density, low-melting, highly reactive metallic elements, including lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium.

Alkalies, originally the hydroxides and carbonates of potassium and sodium. The term now applies to the corresponding compounds of the other alkali metals and of ammonium, NH4, and to the hydroxides of calcium, strontium, and barium. All of these substances produce hydroxide ions, OH-, when dissolved in water. Solutions of alkalies turn red litmus blue, neutralize acids, feel slippery, and are electrical conductors. Sodium hydroxide, NaOH, is an important commercial product. Sodium carbonate, Na2CO3, is used in glass manufacturing, as a cleaning agent, and as a water softener. See Soda.

Encarta® 98 Desk Encyclopedia © & 1996-97 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Thanks again for the interest, Eric, and keep up the excellent posts, you are a treasure!

Viper