Gold Ore

[southfork]

A little sample that was found with a metal detector. Crushed by hand then panned to wash away some of the dirt and clay? The photo is macro so real small particles, but the quartz shows and what looks like iron and free gold. I think we need a small smelter to retrieve the values trying to speed up the recovery what's your thoughts ?

 

[southfork]

Another storm on the way but still a nice day decided to try the retort. I need a small pump to recirculate the cooling fluid or make an expansion tank. Today I filled it with antifreeze and clamped the hose's sprayed graphite inside the pipe cap and fired it up. Worked perfect almost the clear plastic hose sprung a pinhole leak and lost a little antifreeze. But the mercury had stopped coming-out. Great return on the mercury and the gold sponge was clean no visible mercury but a little black sand 15 gram sponge Happy Mining. Whoops I guess my phone was in video mode.

 

[gold tramp]

Another storm on the way but still a nice day decided to try the retort. I need a small pump to recirculate the cooling fluid or make an expansion tank. Today I filled it with antifreeze and clamped the hose's sprayed graphite inside the pipe cap and fired it up. Worked perfect almost the clear plastic hose sprung a pinhole leak and lost a little antifreeze. But the mercury had stopped coming-out. Great return on the mercury and the gold sponge was clean no visible mercury but a little black sand 15 gram sponge Happy Mining. Whoops I guess my phone was in video mode.

Do you weigh you Hg before amalgamations ? Then chk weight after retort.
Gt ..

 

[southfork]

Do you weigh you Hg before amalgamations ? Then chk weight after retort.
Gt ..

No I didn't but I will on the next run. I was going to weigh the amalgam before but I was to lazy to walk back to the house. But it looked and felt like I got all the mercury back.

 

[gold tramp]

No I didn't but I will on the next run. I was going to weigh the amalgam before but I was to lazy to walk back to the house. But it looked and felt like I got all the mercury back.

It's always nice to know,
Best tool in my arsenal of mining equipment Hg. With out it I have a heck of a time collecting the fine stuff I work (desert gold) one day when I grow up I would like to learn to leach these ores.
Till then next best thing amalgamator is my tool of choice
Stay safe .
Gt ..

 

[JohnWhite]

I found a guy selling mercury in Mexico…I just might break down and buy some one day…

Ed T

 

[southfork]

I didn't have a vapor break / cloth tube between the retort outlet and the catch jar. Very important the way I had it set it up could suck water back into the retort and steam escaping could burn you or blow your gold all over hell. Worst case possible explosion. When properly setup with the pump the water recirculates into a separate tank then back to the retort keeping the condensing tube cool.

 

[Clay Diggins]

I found a guy selling mercury in Mexico…I just might break down and buy some one day…

Ed T

Why not just buy it here? A half pound should last a very long time if you keep it clean and charged after use. It's available by mail order - clean and pre charged.

There are only two restrictions on Mercury purchased in the U.S. - it can't be shipped by air and export to some countries is limited to a gram per shipment.

 

[JohnWhite]

Why not just buy it here? A half pound should last a very long time if you keep it clean and charged after use. It's available by mail order - clean and pre charged.

There are only two restrictions on Mercury purchased in the U.S. - it can't be shipped by air and export to some countries is limited to a gram per shipment.

I remember when I was a child…We used to break old thermometers and tv tubes to play with the mercury…

The guy I found selling it in Mexico is only asking $2100 pesos per kilo…And he states that he has 500 kilos for sale…He was offering other mining equipment as well…I believe that a kilo of mercury will probably last me a lifetime…

I also found that I can get a 55% nitric acid in Mexico as well…They sell a 5 liter jug for $619 pesos on Mercado libre…I have been playing with acids of late…I have found it to be a very reliable poor man’s form of an assay…I have been having much better results with my ores doing wet assays…😄 https://articulo.mercadolibre.com.m...cking_id=89f14527-8ffa-4344-9ce1-d257ee92838f
It is $690 pesos…

Oh well…I still feel mercury is a better option for some folks…🤪

Ed T

 

[JohnWhite]

Here is a link some might find informative…

Wet Metal Assay Techniques - 911Metallurgist

Wet Metal Assay Techniques include a method by which the "ore" is turned into powder and thoroughly dissolve it in some liquid, usually an acid, or mixture of

www.911metallurgist.com

Ed T

 

[gold tramp]

I didn't have a vapor break / cloth tube between the retort outlet and the catch jar. Very important the way I had it set it up could suck water back into the retort and steam escaping could burn you or blow your gold all over hell. Worst case possible explosion. When properly setup with the pump the water recirculates into a separate tank then back to the retort keeping the condensing tube cool.

You might want make an air tort or air press as l call it. will make it so you have less hg to deal when you retort. If you need to know how I can pm you part list .
Stay safe..
Will get a pic of it taken apart you get better idea

Gt..

 

[JohnWhite]

Here is a link some might find informative…

Wet Metal Assay Techniques - 911Metallurgist

Wet Metal Assay Techniques include a method by which the "ore" is turned into powder and thoroughly dissolve it in some liquid, usually an acid, or mixture of

www.911metallurgist.com

Ed T

It seems like nobody can be trusted in this day and age…The link I posted states aqua regia as a 4 to 1 ratio…I believe it’s actually a 3 to 1 ratio…And I believe you can use this…https://www.walmart.com/ip/Pro-Cure-4-oz-Sodium-Sulfite/44818055 or https://www.ebay.com/itm/1523491126...KnmLtM1l+7OIv6ASvof8RNPbqBan|tkp:BFBMhPnej-Bh to drop your gold…Those who are interested can read up on it…

Ed T

 

[southfork]

You might want make an air tort or air press as l call it. will make it so you have less hg to deal when you retort. If you need to know how I can pm you part list .
Stay safe..
Will get a pic of it taken apart you get better idea

Gt..View attachment 2075101

It just needs a piece cloth wrapped around the outlet so just the cloth touches the water in the collection jar. Just a short hose not the way I had it. But thanks.

 

[JohnWhite]

You could always use nitric acid on your mercury…I believe you can use an aluminum can to drop your clean mercury from it…I personally have not tried it yet…

Ed T

 

[gold tramp]

It just needs a piece cloth wrapped around the outlet so just the cloth touches the water in the collection jar. Just a short hose not the way I had it. But thanks.

The air tort is the step one uses before amalgam goes into retort, it removes excess Hg, just in case you didn't understand what I was talking about...
One doesnt have to use it, just sharing advice on refining process.
Another tool in you arsenal
Gt..

 

[gold tramp]

You could always use nitric acid on your mercury…I believe you can use an aluminum can to drop your clean mercury from it…I personally have not tried it yet…

Ed T

I use the acid digest method.
Just don't talk about it online, nitric bad stuff some folk might not be saftey minded..
Sorry for jumping in on you story Southfork sometimes I forget my manners...
Gt....

 

[JohnWhite]

I use the acid digest method.
Just don't talk about it online, nitric bad stuff some folk might not be saftey minded..

I still believe old timers knew a lot more than we know…probably because they were not afraid to try different things…

Some even used a potato retort…

Ed T

 

[southfork]

I use the acid digest method.
Just don't talk about it online, nitric bad stuff some folk might not be saftey minded..
Sorry for jumping in on you story Southfork sometimes I forget my manners...
Gt....

I've used nitric a few times also don't tell anybody jump in whenever you want. Most of the time I'm just talking to myself anyway.

 

[southfork]

The air tort is the step one uses before amalgam goes into retort, it removes excess Hg, just in case you didn't understand what I was talking about...
One doesnt have to use it, just sharing advice on refining process.
Another tool in you arsenal
Gt..

New one on me I just use the mercury until it wont roll around in the pan anymore. I have dirty gold also that won't amalgamate that gets a trip into the furnace.

 

[gold tramp]

New one on me I just use the mercury until it wont roll around in the pan anymore. I have dirty gold also that won't amalgamate that gets a trip into the furnace.

Just the grinding action when you crush you highgrade should take care of dirty gold not being taken up in hg.
Maybe different on gold up north..
Gt...

 

[southfork]

Just the grinding action when you crush you highgrade should take care of dirty gold not being taken up in hg.
Maybe different on gold up north..
Gt...

Even the free gold pickers we get out of the mill have impurities we have to deal with. The placer gold is a lot cleaner it makes nice buttons with only a melt.