Gold specles in precipitate

[philddreamer]

Spaceships, I'm afraid we are talking about two different things.

How many times have you refined your gold? The more times you refine it, the more beautiful the drop; but I'm talking of achieving gold crystals from the very first drop, from a dirty solution...
Usually, the gold is black or dark brown when precipitated from a dirty solution for the first time, requiring a second refining in order to start getting gold crystals. The pic's show how dirty was the solution.

Take care!
Phil

 

[Anonymous]

I hear you Phil

You're correct we are talking about different things, but I think BOTH of us are talking about different things mate

I've had crystals too from a first dirty drop. In this case today though it was re-refined a few times because we were experimenting but the lack of Sulphuric still remained a constant between the dirty and clean drops, that was the point I was trying (obviously very badly) to make.

When you got your crystal drop from your dirty drop how much did you evaporate the solution before adding SMB? More than usual?

 

[philddreamer]

When you got your crystal drop from your dirty drop how much did you evaporate the solution before adding SMB? More than usual

No... not really. I usually siphon as much acid as posible; then I take the left over, place it in the beaker and add enough HCl for the gold I estimate present. I check the level of the liquid. Then I add a bit of peroxide and clorox. I heat the solution and add more clorox as needed.
After all the material has digested and the solution changes color, a nice emerald green, I heat the solution and evaporate the volume of clorox added, plus another 100ml or better of solution. Let it cool, vacuum filter. Then I add dry SMB without stirring. That's why the precipitate looks like a burger bun. :mrgreen:
The solution will test negative for gold. All the gold precipitates from the solution.

Thanks for sharing your findings!
Phil

 

[bswartzwelder]

I am kind of puzzled by what you're doing. You siphon off the liquid. Add HCl. Then add hydrogen peroxide AND Chlorox. Seems to me the peroxide would dissolve all base metals leaving somewhat more pure gold behind, but the Chlorox will dissolve the gold. To me, that makes for a really dirty solution with more base metals in solution with your gold. You want to EITHER get the base metals in solution OR get your gold in solution. Not both.

That, to me, puts you back to square one and you are starting all over again.

 

[philddreamer]

I am kind of puzzled by what you're doing

Well, what I'm doing is, proceeding to digest the sediment left at the bottom of the sulphuric cell, (after de-plating the gold pins, that were pulled and have no solder). The sediment is mainly gold. I know some copper and other base metals could've dissolved, but their presence is small. This is still a RECOVERY step. Notice from pic. 008, the color and clarity of the solution.

I digest everything at this point and save myself time and chemicals. The result from this step is already stated above. To me, .990 fine is good, since I sell the ingot and get paid for "content of gold" and not for its fineness. I've done this same step 8 times, with the same results.

That, to me, puts you back to square one and you are starting all over again.

Not at all, Bro, on the contrary... I'm finished! I just rinse, dry, melt and ship! :mrgreen:

Take care!

Phil