Refining Gold Beads: From Miscellaneous Experiments to High Purity Gold Button

TLDRWatch as Jason from Mount Baker Mining and Metals takes a bunch of miscellaneous gold beads and refines them down to a high purity gold button. Learn about the process of using wet chemistry to achieve this and the highlights of the refining journey.

Key insights

💎The process involves panning the gold, smelting the panning tailings, and refining the gold through multiple nitric acid baths.

🔥Cornflake silver is produced from smelting silver film canisters, and it is then mixed with gold to create a 25% gold and 75% silver alloy.

👨‍🔬The gold-silver alloy is smelted and cooled to create a gold button with a mirror-like finish.

🏺Lead oxide and base metals are separated from the silver using Portland cement as a cupel.

✨The final result is a high purity gold button, weighing about 750 grams.

Q&A

What is the process of refining gold beads?

—The process involves panning the gold, smelting the panning tailings, and refining the gold through multiple nitric acid baths.

What is cornflake silver?

—Cornflake silver is produced from smelting silver film canisters and is used to create a gold-silver alloy.

How is the gold button created?

—The gold-silver alloy is smelted and cooled to create a gold button with a mirror-like finish.

How are lead oxide and base metals separated from the silver?

—Lead oxide and base metals are separated using Portland cement as a cupel.

What is the final result of the process?

—The final result is a high purity gold button, weighing about 750 grams.

Timestamped Summary

00:00Watch as Jason from Mount Baker Mining and Metals takes a bunch of miscellaneous gold beads.

02:22Jason pans the gold and smelts the panning tailings to retrieve as much free gold as possible.

03:34The gold is separated from the panned-out material and dried.

04:24The gold is heated to remove any remaining impurities, resulting in a gold button.

07:19Cornflake silver is produced by smelting silver film canisters and is mixed with gold to create a gold-silver alloy.

08:49The gold-silver alloy is heated, cooled, and shaped into a gold button with a mirror-like finish.

12:54Lead oxide and base metals are separated from the silver using Portland cement as a cupel.

18:59The final result is a high purity gold button, weighing about 750 grams.

Browse more