solar_plasma said:
Harold, did you read, that his "tailings" contain 20% Au, which he concentrated to 60%? I still don't believe there is any thruth in this. I mentioned AR only because of this already almost only is gold, a gold content comparable to jewelry.
I must say that I probably didn't understand the claim, but I have had personal experience with extracting values from relatively high concentrations. That would include a substantial amount of gold mixed with black sand. It works, but presents its own problems. I would recommend it only under the worst possible scenario.
And---and there is an and-----I would determine what percentage of silver is contained within, assuming the particles of gold are of any substance, as silver would slow, maybe even stop, extraction. That's one of the benefits of using cyanide, although unless the values are very fine (small) in nature, it may not function all that well, either.
I'll play the devil's advocate for a moment, and assume that there really is a 60% gold concentration. If that be the case, there's not a doubt in my mind---I'd go after the values with a furnace. With such a high concentration of values, even if one achieved just one heat per crucible (you would get more), it would most likely be the most economical and reliable method to operate. If a collector was required, I believe I'd use silver. After all, we're dealing with a very critical value, so that would justify the investment.
I do have an issue with the idea that those who created the dump site would have left behind visible gold. Not saying it wouldn't have been possible, but it certainly makes little sense, especially when one considers that mercury has been used with reckless abandon in such a case.
Lets leave it like this. I'm skeptical, but open to evidence to support the claim. Mean time, it is my recommendation that no one get involved with this project, aside from providing guidance where it may be appropriate. Mean time, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck -----
Harold