Best way to remove lead from gold?

[mellowyellow]

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.

 

[mellowyellow]

Interesting, once I get the Nitric acid, I will be able to see whats whats I think.. I want to dredge so bad.. CANT in CA,,what a shame... I have never done it, and salavating!

 

[NeoTokyo]

Very nice gold in your pan.

 

[mellowyellow]

Very nice gold in your pan.

Thank you sir. Tested my super Keene Concentrator yesterday.. What a beast! Ran a half a bucket in 2 minutes, caught every single piece of gold. Even the little baby pepper. Amazed. Got it on eBay for $130 bucks.

 

[kuger]

Too late to tell you now but you are probably noticing your gray moving?For the future unless you want mercury on all of your gold never put clean gold in with any that is gray.....

 

[419GottaMinute]

Kuger is, as always, correct. I found a tiny ball in my cons, thought it was a ball bearing from a fishing reel. It was about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Left it in with my good to show the guys at the shop, two days later the ball was gone but about half the gold in jar was tainted(gram). Sad face

 

[loby]

Hiii friends..

Best way to remove lead from gold....

Lead Solder Removal - Crock 'O' Gold

Thanks,

 

[mellowyellow]

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

I still have yet to get the acid in the mail. eBay sometimes has some foolish sellers. Sells me it then emails me saying he's out of stock for two weeks. Who knows.

Well by now all my gold is kinda ugly that was sitting with the mercury gold.. Ughh. You were right.

Can't wait to try and clean the gold up and try this tin foil method. Thx again.!

Lazy Scott.