Help plz

[stone seeker]

I'm sure I've found gold telluride in abundance in ontario. But I'm no expert. Researched the crap out of this down to the confusing formation and I'm sure that's what it is. I've got more pics or willing to ship samples at my cost. Have about 10 ton of this stuff a gathered to make a stone wall lol.

 

[Ohiogoldfever]

Beautiful stone. Hope it pays out for you.

 

[stone seeker]

That would be great but I'm at a loss what to do next. As well calaverite isn't completely understood yet. Studies and experiments performed so far show great potential for energy storage and conservation. With that said the market price could and more then likely will spike up fast once utilized. I'm thinking I should sit on it, give it a couple years.

 

[Ohiogoldfever]

Have you had a formal assay done? Are you sure the rock has PMs? A visual inspection is only partially helpful.

 

[goldshark]

Try roasting some at around 2000 F. This will cook off the Tellurium, leaving an Au blister. You can do it with a small piece that looks high grade. If it is, you will have a great conversation piece.

 

[stone seeker]

Have you had a formal assay done? Are you sure the rock has PMs? A visual inspection is only partially helpful.

Have you had a formal assay done? Are you sure the rock has PMs? A visual inspection is only partially helpful.

No I haven't but my sister in law is a biochemist and has access to microscopic observation equipment that we were able to use. Under crystal clear 100x magnification it was all easily recognizable. Checked couple dozen pieces.

 

[stone seeker]

Try roasting some at around 2000 F. This will cook off the Tellurium, leaving an Au blister. You can do it with a small piece that looks high grade. If it is, you will have a great conversation piece.

I have no experience doing anything like that but I'm researching it and going to try. Any advice? Thx for your reply.

 

[stone seeker]

No I haven't but my sister in law is a biochemist and has access to microscopic observation equipment that we were able to use. Under crystal clear 100x magnification it was all easily recognizable. Checked couple dozen pieces.

Wanted to thank you for taking time to talk to me, need all the help I can get. Would love to send you a unique piece if you like.

 

[jobinyt]

I have no idea of the difficulty/process but at about 70 USD per KG it seems the tellurium should not be discarded in recovering the gold.

 

[goldshark]

Assay not only for the Au, but also the Te %. You will have to find a lab that does AA, ICP, or an XRF. XRF is , I feel, the most variable and unreliable, unless you get a really good operator. Roasting, or in this case Calcining, at 2000 F will drive of the Te, leaving a blister of Au/Ag on an exposed surface. Since you haven't discerned between which Au/Te mineral you may have, the color will generally be a Silver to dull to very yellow/orange hue of Au. The Calcining can be done with a hand held propane torch, much used in soldering copper pipes. Heat to a orange /yellow color, in dark light, for about 10 minutes for a 1" diameter sample. As usual, eye protection is beneficial, as the sample may explode due to entrapped moisture. !0 tons is not a lot of material, unless it was Te concentrated. Trying to find a buyer may be a tough sell. Good luck, and welcome to the forum.

 

[stone seeker]

I dropped off a couple pieces to mayhews jewelery and they sent it away for free as I know him. They're saying it's iridium, rhodium and calaverite. I agree with calaverite but iridium and rhodium seems unlikely. Here's pics of the nuggets what you think, to me does look like it and very hard.

 

[Yggdrasil]

I dropped off a couple pieces to mayhews jewelery and they sent it away for free as I know him. They're saying it's iridium, rhodium and calaverite. I agree with calaverite but iridium and rhodium seems unlikely. Here's pics of the nuggets what you think, to me does look like it and very hard.

I’m not sure anyone in this forum or elsewhere are able to see what a mineral is composed of from a picture.
So my conclusion is:
Nice Rock

Edit for spelling

 

[Martijn]

Looking at those first pictures and considering that iridium comment, could it be arsenopyrite? Carefull with roasting!

One tip: look at the preview of your message before you send. You're commenting on your own posts, and often double qouting them.
And when you still miss something, like spelling a word, add a line like:

(Edited for spelling. )

 

[kurtak]

I dropped off a couple pieces to mayhews jewelery and they sent it away for free as I know him. They're saying it's iridium, rhodium and calaverite.

Per the bold print (in above quote) did they shoot (test) the rocks with an XRF ?

If so - the XRF is likely seeing arsenic & calling it iridium (&/or rhodium)

In other words - shooting rocks with any XRF can give you false readings of what is in the rocks

So - when it comes to rocks - to "be sure" of what is actually in the rocks - you have to send them off to an actual assay/analytical lab --- those kind of assays/analytics are not cheap - especially when PGMs are involved

You might find what I posted in this thread about shooting rocks with an XRF interesting

https://goldrefiningforum.com/threads/average-percentage-of-iridium-in-iron-ore.31847/
Kurt

 

[Martijn]

Per the bold print (in above quote) did they shoot (test) the rocks with an XRF ?

If so - the XRF is likely seeing arsenic & calling it iridium (&/or rhodium)

In other words - shooting rocks with any XRF can give you false readings of what is in the rocks

So - when it comes to rocks - to "be sure" of what is actually in the rocks - you have to send them off to an actual assay/analytical lab --- those kind of assays/analytics are not cheap - especially when PGMs are involved

You might find what I posted in this thread about shooting rocks with an XRF interesting

https://goldrefiningforum.com/threads/average-percentage-of-iridium-in-iron-ore.31847/
Kurt

Kurt, would roasting said rocks be wise without knowing exactly what they consist of? Arsenic would be released in gas form if the rock is arsenopyrite right?

 

[stoneware]

I dropped off a couple pieces to mayhews jewelery and they sent it away for free as I know him. They're saying it's iridium, rhodium and calaverite. I agree with calaverite but iridium and rhodium seems unlikely. Here's pics of the nuggets what you think, to me does look like it and very hard.

I'm sure I've found gold telluride in abundance in ontario. But I'm no expert. Researched the crap out of this down to the confusing formation and I'm sure that's what it is. I've got more pics or willing to ship samples at my cost. Have about 10 ton of this stuff a gathered to make a stone wall lol.

Looks like there's a strong possibility there's precious metals present. Ontario is well known for its platinum.

Only an assay will tell you what metals are present, i use a lab in Saskatchewan for mine.

ICP will tun you $35.00

R&D, Lab Testing Services | Saskatchewan Research Council
Saskatchewan Research Council
Address: 129-6 Research Dr, Regina SK S4S 7H9, Canada

Phone: +1 306 787 9400

 

[orvi]

You need to squeeze something metallic from the rock in order to prove it by XRF. Smelting of sulfides with toxic elements as tellurium and arsenic is a hazardous thing. ICP is your best bet I think, from the point of reliability and time spent. Mix several different pieces, try not to cherry-pick the best specimens to get good picture of what you have. Then homogenize it, pulverize and make concentrates. Mark the original weight and weight of the cons, made by eg panning the stuff carefully. Take sample of cons and send to ICP.
Best practice in terms of your time and reliability. Aside of special assays for PGMs, which are in turn quite expensive.