I am an inexperienced greenhorn, for sure. I have just recently started to try my unskilled attempts to extract gold from quartz rocks. A few months ago, I had picked up a rock that for some reason I thought was an agate, (I'm a die hard agate hunter and collector), and when I realized it was just a sediment rock, I was gonna chuck it in the Zumbro River. But, I noticed it was quite heavy for its size and for what it was. My Uncle said there was gold in it, and I pretty much laughed at him. Sorry, Uncle C, you were right. So, I've been reading, watching videos, studying some trial and error shots for the past few months. I'm definitely not a chemist, in fact, I had straight D's in class. But, I can say I am so close to getting my first nugget of gold. I understand and can successfully extract and dissolve the gold, ( Muriatic acid and bleach), and I just got the precipitating under control, (Bonide Stump Out, SMB). But, I am extremely outta the ball park, when it comes to smelting with borax and flux. But, I can see gold melted on some tools, or can see gold flakes smiling at me, under the hardened glass-like surface of the borax. So, I know it's there. I've been back and forth on this site, and I'm quite pleased with what I've read and learned. So, with that being said, you guys are pretty awesome for doing and having this forum to spread your knowledge on precious metal refining. Thank you. Hopefully now and soon, I can get me a beautiful piece of nugget, as I had and seen in Alaska, when I was growing up. Keep up the good work, guys.