22k button. What am I doing wrong

[GPMR]

Thanks Harold,
The last AR was orange and after precipitated with MSB, clean like water with choclate sludge at bottom(gold)

 

[Harold_V]

Thanks Harold,
The last AR was orange and after precipitated with MSB, clean like water with choclate sludge at bottom(gold)

If the button you showed came from that lot, it's what I would expect to hear. The question is, are you talking about reprocessing the same button, or a different lot. From your description, and the appearance of the button in question, I'd expect it to be quite good. Good surface finish, good color and a nice pipe. The color of the borax coating in the melting dish from that button would be quite revealing.

Harold

 

[samuel-a]

GPMR

Good to have you on board.

Harold and the boys seems to have covered pretty much every angle of the process.
Your botton looks good to me. especially wehn you mention that the second drop left a colorless solution.

You said you are expecting 22.9 grams of gold, what is the weight of that botton?
If it's higher then 22.9 grams, and assuming no significant losses in the process, then yes, i'de say it's lower the 24K.
If it's just at or less then 22.9 grams, again assuming no significant losses in the process, you should be OK.

You can always take it to a professional to assay it for you, or just follow Harold's suggestion to re-process and take note of starting weight against final weight.

In time you will start relying more on your process and experience rather then recipes and testing machines. Hang around, you will find this forum to be a pond of information.

Good luck mate.

 

[goldenchild]

I'm not convinced that button was ever 22k. It looks to be of higher purity due to the pipe. Before going through all of this again I would suggest getting a simple acid testing kit. Those electronic testers are prone to operator error. The acid tests won't lie on known materials like that button. I bet that button would have easily stood up to the 22k acid test.

 

[GPMR]

Yes, it did stand up to the 22K acid test.

 

[qst42know]

I can't be certain from the photo but it may be my monitor. Do you still have borax on that button?

 

[GPMR]

Did clean with HCL to remove any borax.

 

[qst42know]

Hot sulfuric is what I'm familiar with does HCL work as well?

 

[samuel-a]

Hot sulfuric is what I'm familiar with does HCL work as well?

Most acidic solution will work.
Even plain boiling water will do the job, though slowly.

 

[Oz]

As Harold stated, a picture of the dish the gold was melted in will be the most revealing if you wish feedback from those that have melted many ounces.