Mercury in pay dirt

[tolan]

Is there really any mercury in the pay dirt you dig up when gold panning ?

 

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[kuger]

yes........

 

[NeoTokyo]

Yup, dont throw gold away because its silver/gray either, just gotta use a retort to clean it correctly and without much danger.

 

[tolan]

When you say retort do you mean like dish sop

 

[cudamark]

Nope, it takes acid to burn it off. In some areas, it's rare to find gold without a mercury coating.

 

[TerryC]

Yes. Although seeking its own level, similar to gold, it doesn't go away. Gold rush days put MUCH of it in certain areas. The more time you spend in the Mother Lode, the more you will get aqauinted with this scurge of the land. It has its place, but should not be in the waterways. Naked greed put it there. TTC

 

[Sackett]

I have read that in some areas as much as 1 grain in every 5 or 6 grains of "black sand" is in fact gold that would be a lot!!!

 

[tolan]

I heard your suppose to burn the mercury off but you have to build some kind of system to collect the vapors because the vapors are dangers is that right?

 

[Oakview2]

 

[TerryC]

I heard your suppose to burn the mercury off but you have to build some kind of system to collect the vapors because the vapors are dangers is that right?

The reason you would collect the vapors is to re-use the mercury. Kind of like an alcohol still. TTC

 

[tolan]

Will that's true but mercury vapor is dangers plus I think it probably would be good to turn it into a place that disposes mercury?

 

[63bkpkr]

Tolan,
There is an old saying "Mad as a Hatter" and it refers to people who had gone insane due to inhaling mercury fumes or mercury was absorbed through their skin and it lodges in the brain. These people worked on restoring Gentleman's hat's to their original shape and they used Mercury in the process of reshaping. So yes, Mercury as a solid liquid or as a gaseous fume IS dangerous and needs to be treated with care. Finding a place to recycle it at could be interesting though I've heard comments here on Tnet about folks having done just that........63bkpkr

 

[tolan]

Any ways would it be a good idea to wear thick gloves when gold panning?

 

[MadMarshall]

Tolan whether you have mercury in your possesion or this is just a hypothetical situation I am unsure but the simple truth is mercury is dangerous. and if you are seeking info about it on a forum makes no sense to me.. Sir their are plenty of informative sites that explain mercury.. Please take the time to fully understand the dangers an proper way to store it.

 

[tolan]

Idk forum are for asking questions and talking about subjects so asking question about how to deal with mercury makes sense to me!

 

[goldog]

It sounds like Tolan is just asking if he is likely to find mercury while out panning and what to do about it.
It depends. Some gold areas will have some while most will not.

I would say don't worry until it shows up in your diggins. Exposure to the small amount in a pan won't harm you. It is probably safe to pan w/o gloves unless you know there is a significant amount. Depending on what you find you'll know how to proceed. If balls of liquid are rolling around your pan eating your gold come back here and we will help you figure out what to do.

 

[tolan]

Thanks for the reply goldog =)

 

[MadMarshall]

nothing intended by it. I just wouldnt choose a forum where opinions/facts and the intentions of men are unproven.. For me when I research things not just potentialy dangerous things I tend to look for credible sites who soley deal with such information.. heresay is not good enough for me.. and neither is the internet for that matter!!

 

[Lanny in AB]

The reason you would collect the vapors is to re-use the mercury. Kind of like an alcohol still. TTC

Don't try to get hammered on the product from the "mercury" still though. Just kidding.

All the best,

Lanny

 

[Lanny in AB]

On a different note, I'm trying to recall when I don't find mercury. It always seems to be present where streams were worked hard by the Oldtimer's as many of them used it to trap the fine gold, and they were not careful with it, as it got in the streams they were working on a regular basis. Then, there's streams that weren't worked that still have mercury in them--elemental mercury--naturally occurring mercury. I have got gold from gold-bearing streams and never seen a sign of mercury; so, yes, and no.

As well, I've found it while dredging, but then again I haven't (depending on the stream); so, once again, yes and no.

The only time I use gloves when doing regular panning is when the water is stinkin' cold--the thought of mercury has never entered in to it. Now, if I'm using mercury to concentrate and amalgamate--absolutely.

All the best,

Lanny