Flux Recipe Assistance

[Journey's End]

If I'm understanding Bugbee correctly, I should not need to add any acidic flux, such as borax, because my ore is already mostly silica (quartz). Am I correct or misunderstanding something? If I were to concentrate the ore, then I might need to add borax/silica. If this it true, why use borax instead of just adding back some of the quartz that was panned out?

 

[goldshark]

If I'm understanding Bugbee correctly, I should not need to add any acidic flux, such as borax, because my ore is already mostly silica (quartz). Am I correct or misunderstanding something? If I were to concentrate the ore, then I might need to add borax/silica. If this it true, why use borax instead of just adding back some of the quartz that was panned out?

The melting time will depend on crucible size, and amount of contents. Temp should be around 2000 F, maybe 50 degrees higher. Contents should be bone dry. Foaming is the release of CO2 evaporating off due to the heat reaction. Try using Sodium Hydroxide flakes for less boiling reaction. Litharge is far superior to metallic Lead for a collector. The amount of Silica needed, if any, will be determined by the erosion of the crucible. Not enough Silica, and it will eat the crucible, leading to spills. Some assay books will give the exact equation for concocting the correct flux. A knowledge of minerals and chemistry is required, otherwise you are at the approximation game of trial and error. Concentrates will change your recipe for the flux. If you go too heavy on the Soda Ash, it will eat the crucible. Read, then re read Bugbee some more. It takes a while for the chemistry of each flux, and the respective reactions, with each mineral in the sample.

 

[SRM]

I understand that you may have additional information and reasons to want to smelt this sample. But based on the information provided, there isn't enough value to pay for the flux. The sample is 34% Si and 6% minor elements. Most of the elements on the report were below detection limits. I would doubt that crushing, pulverizing and panning would significantly change the value.

Just my opinion

 

[goldshark]

Doing the math on the Au, I get 12 troy ozs per pound X 2000 lbs Avordupouis = 29,166.7 ozs x.00001 = .29 Toz per ton. If tonnage can be had, it might make for a good mine. The Alaska Treadwell mine operated successfully on an average tenor of ore at .03 Toz/ton. The assay report stated less than .001 Au by weight per ton. Don't know exactly what it is.

 

[Ismael123]

As this is xrf of the ore. XRF is a big no for ores even a master operator. You only can do a test of different flux recipie if you are agree to loose whatever the cost of trail will be. Remember, if you spend some hundred dollars to find that you should not spend thousands, is not a bad deal.
There may be , MAY BE something in silica. Try to break silica , from smelting route, it requires high tamp , some 1500 c , or solvent extraction may require strong acids. Safety is first when you do all this. Especially when you are on acid route. I somewhere get asprine dissolves silicates. Silicates and iron in pgms ore is normal, but where your values are? In iron, with iron, in sulfides, in minerals, in shape of free values, bounded with minerals, locked in somewhere. Then in what shape, pgms sometime in crystal structure,
All this is the information required for start, on basis of these infos, you will choose a route to profitably work on ore.
It will be good thing if some expert share what tests are required for these info. Alone ICP test from a lab will do as they learn many years ago and can not describe all these things.
Hope you understand.

Here on forum, no one will give you his secret, but may be you should must listen and think on answers you get to start. These answers are really important.

 

[Yggdrasil]

As this is xrf of the ore. XRF is a big no for ores even a master operator. You only can do a test of different flux recipie if you are agree to loose whatever the cost of trail will be. Remember, if you spend some hundred dollars to find that you should not spend thousands, is not a bad deal.
There may be , MAY BE something in silica. Try to break silica , from smelting route, it requires high tamp , some 1500 c , or solvent extraction may require strong acids. Safety is first when you do all this. Especially when you are on acid route. I somewhere get asprine dissolves silicates. Silicates and iron in pgms ore is normal, but where your values are? In iron, with iron, in sulfides, in minerals, in shape of free values, bounded with minerals, locked in somewhere. Then in what shape, pgms sometime in crystal structure,
All this is the information required for start, on basis of these infos, you will choose a route to profitably work on ore.
It will be good thing if some expert share what tests are required for these info. Alone ICP test from a lab will do as they learn many years ago and can not describe all these things.
Hope you understand.

Here on forum, no one will give you his secret, but may be you should must listen and think on answers you get to start. These answers are really important.

There are not supposed to be secrets in here, I hope.
But there are processes that may be proprietary and as such can't be shared legally.

 

[Ismael123]

There are not supposed to be secrets in here, I hope.
But there are processes that may be proprietary and as such can't be shared legally.

Yes, I am not an old user of forum , but I read a lot here, I think here are some experts, rest are learners. And mostly on forum, there is always a struggle to hide and seek. Well this is the beauty of a forum.

 

[goldshark]

Yes, I am not an old user of forum , but I read a lot here, I think here are some experts, rest are learners. And mostly on forum, there is always a struggle to hide and seek. Well this is the beauty of a forum.

When it comes to assaying/smelting, there are no "secrets". There are so many variables in the sample being tested, that there is no "one size fits all" flux recipe. Only experience with mineral samples and the knowledge of chemistry, will prevail in achieving good results. This can come from trial and error on your own, or an apprenticeship with somebody experienced in this art, or a combination. The "experts" on this forum have followed the direction given above. Everybody wants to start at the top, but the reality is to be truly knowledgable, you need to start by sweeping the floors or washing the bottles.

 

[galenrog]

Everybody wants to start at the top, but the reality is to be truly knowledgable, you need to start by sweeping the floors or washing the bottles.

Yes, indeed.

Time for more coffee.