Best way to remove lead from gold?

mellowyellow · Sep 30, 2012

Hey everyone, been prospecting a year, been going out once a month or so. Went to the north Yuba river to
Highbank, an some of the gold looks dull yellow and some just looks solid grey. I assume its lead covering the gold? I thought mercury was very shinny so I assumed it was lead.

My question is, can I just try an burn the gold to figure out what is on the gold?, or even to figure out if some of the flakes are gold? Lol. Of course I will be outside up wind, with a respirator. Any feed back would be great. I also bought some 70% nitric acid that a friend suggested to use for removal of mercury. Not goin to touch that acid yet, until I do more research.

419GottaMinute · Sep 30, 2012

Fire and acid both produce toxic fumes with mercury. The acid will eat lead too, bit I don't think you cab burn off lead without smelting. 70% nitric will burn the crap outta your skin, so use some thick gloves and wear layers of clothing. Dishwasher gloves work well, but don't use surgical type gloves, as they tear exceedingly easy.

mellowyellow · Sep 30, 2012

Thanks, so I just use the acid but very very careful.. The acid will dissolve the mercury and any lead? The acid will not hurt the gold correct? Thanks.

Lanny in AB · Sep 30, 2012

Hi there,

It's most likely mercury coating your gold, not lead. Try the acid and see what happens. Use your respirator for sure. Or, if you use the heat method, buy a retort that will capture the mercury as you heat the gold, and it will stop the mercury from getting into the environment.

All the best,

Lanny

Fullpan · Sep 30, 2012

If you have less than 2 grams, the mercury coating(not shiney, but dull gray) is micro thin, and if recovered would only be a couple tiny beads. Therefore,
if you your gold in a metal, disposable container, and heat it slowly over a camp stove with 20 feet of buffering between you and the stove(and stand upwind)
you can drive off the mercury. You may have to hold your breath to check to see if its hot enough. If the gray disappears, the yellow comes out, you are
done. Most of us use vinegar and dish soap to agitate the gold for awhile in a jar to bring about a final polish. If you have more than 2 grams, try the
methods described above.

63bkpkr · Sep 30, 2012

If you use any type of 'strong' acid then be sure to protect your eyes as well as your face so I'm taling two types of protection at glasses and a shield....63bkpkr

mellowyellow · Sep 30, 2012

Great info in this forum. I don't feel so out of place here! Lol. Lord knows, my family and friends think I'm crazy for as much as I put in for such little gold. I can't really examine why I love it, but I sure do.

I thought about the retort but I heard the retort is better for larger amounts of gold. I have less than a penny. Wish I found more on the north Yuba, but I was by myself. Not easy luggin that highbanker and pump solo. It was great claim and I was lucky to hav Pat let me dig there. What a blast and how beautiful the area is.

Anyway, sorry for blabbing..

mellowyellow · Sep 30, 2012

Will do.. Thanks. I feel like a chemist here, lol.

mellowyellow · Sep 30, 2012

Wow, great info in your post, thank u! Now I know that dull grey look is mercury and most likely not lead, an it's a micro thin layer.

You are correct, I took a few small flakes and put it in a small copper pan. I then heated it up with a plumbers torch. I did have a respirator and was up wind, and I held my breath, lol. Strangely, one of the flakes turned a nice yellow, as a few very small beads if mercury roll off it and away. One if the other flakes(thought was a flake), actually turned into a powder/dust and kinda dissolved. Maybe there was no gold in there or I dissolved it somehow. Hmmm.

I have less than 2 grams for sure, just about 10-12 flakes. Embarrassed

So u think I should not use the acid and just melt it like I was doing?

Also, is there any things you all do to polish, or make your gold really shine?? Some o the gold I have is dull and some has red Chiapas clay still stuck in it.

Thanks and happy to be here.

NeoTokyo · Oct 1, 2012

Could you post a couple pics up please?
Gold of any color is great to see.

Oakview2 · Oct 1, 2012

mellowyellow · Oct 1, 2012

NeoTokyo said:
Could you post a couple pics up please?
Gold of any color is great to see.

Yes sir, will put a few out tomorrow when I get home. At station today. Thanks!

kuger · Oct 1, 2012

When you use the acid,it will smoke and sizzle.....watch it.when it stops sizzling pour the acid off,and drop a ball of tin foil in it...whala,your mercury will drop out...like magic,quickly pour the acid off of that and you now have gold-acid-mercury.Your gold will have a dull gray stain.I use vinegar and salt,or vin. and dish soap,in a PLASTIC vial.When I am watching tv I sit and vigourously shake the vial....this takes time.The water may turn black,dump it off add new and go at it again.When done IMHO its too bright and shiney,but there is no way around it

mellowyellow · Oct 1, 2012

kuger said:
When you use the acid,it will smoke and sizzle.....watch it.when it stops sizzling pour the acid off,and drop a ball of tin foil in it...whala,your mercury will drop out...like magic,quickly pour the acid off of that and you now have gold-acid-mercury.Your gold will have a dull gray stain.I use vinegar and salt,or vin. and dish soap,in a PLASTIC vial.When I am watching tv I sit and vigourously shake the vial....this takes time.The water may turn black,dump it off add new and go at it again.When done IMHO its too bright and shiney,but there is no way around it

Ok, thank you. So let me get this straight.. It will sizzle , when it stops, pour off the acid, leaving the gold?? What's the piece of tin foil for? Never heard before.. How do u discard/dispose of the acid when u are done?

Thanks.

kuger · Oct 1, 2012

yes,the acid will just be liquid....drop the tin foil in that,and your mercury will appear....sepearte it out or the acid will take it up again.I will leave it up to you on how to discard of the acid......I reuse mine

mellowyellow · Oct 1, 2012

kuger said:
yes,the acid will just be liquid....drop the tin foil in that,and your mercury will appear....sepearte it out or the acid will take it up again.I will leave it up to you on how to discard of the acid......I reuse mine

Ok, thank you, will give It a shot.

NeoTokyo · Oct 1, 2012

Those retort video's were a good watch for sure, if I come by any mercury covered gold I might try that.

mellowyellow · Oct 2, 2012

This Gold is from the North Yuba River, by Fiddle Creek. Beautiful area. Keene 175 High Banker. I worked one hole only, for 3 days, about 4 hours each day.... Not to shabby for one random hole by a large rock and bush. If I had snother person with me I would of ventured out more and moved alot more material. Had a blast, cant wait to go back, and looking for a small placer near the N Yuba. Possibly a feeder stream to it.

Anyway, you can see some of the gold has the dull grey look. I assume this is mercury and who knows what else...

mellowyellow · Oct 2, 2012

Those were interesting videos.... Thanks....

AUVnav · Oct 2, 2012

There is a bit of platinum and palladium in that area as well...so all thats grey isnt lead or mercury...

hit a pocket of mercury once with the dredge...whole thing bogged down, surfaced to see the entire riffle filled with mercury...was about 4 oz of gold in the mix...