Oregon viking, until spring, I'm stuck in Arkansas where there is very very little gold to be found. Would you be able to send me a couple of zip lock freezer bags of that black sand? Let me know sometime today of you can. On my way home from work, I can money gram some cash for shipping and your time. Thanks either way.
Has anybody ever thought about making iron or steel with their black sand? Magnetite is actually one of the best sources of iron ore and hematite is another. I have been thinking about building a small blast furnace and casting a frying pan from my black sand. Or maybe a steel crevacing tool, either way I think it's a pretty cool way to put that black sand to use. Imagine cooking breakfast over the campfire in a skillet that you made from black sand.
Cool idea. You would be making cast iron though, not steel so don't plan on making tools with it. Steel making is advanced, high temp chemistry compared to casting iron. Iron is strong but brittle.
Willis...cool idea, but let me have a shot of getting that shiny yellow metal out first
Sluice W, what State are you in? I have buckets full of black sands for your project in NJ and could probably get more from NC. You can have them but have to pick them up.
We have a good supply of (removed by mod for rule violation) I've linked the underlined words, hopefullly we can help you out.
Jerrod
Great reading material Sluice Willis, thanks for sharing that! Now I really want to try making iron from some magnetite!
You inspired me to look for more info on this: The Rockbridge Bloomery