I am a new browser on the site and i am blown away by what i am seeing here. I am interested in precious metals recovery, mining and refining as a hobbyist. my full time job takes me away from home most of the time so i haven't been able to really do much of this other than reading.
About me, I have taken some college Chemistry, lots of math and 1st and second year engineering classes, and i have worked part time in a lab doing soil, water and manure testing when i was in college. I have always been interested in precious metals but have never done much more than a little panning for gold and i found this place loking for some answers since my dad acquired a medium sized box of motherboards and i was tasked with figuring out how to extract PM.
My dad was an ameture prospector and has acquired some valuable items for prospecting with bigger things in mind, and thank god he didn't attempt what he had in mind. My dad acquired a micron mill wave table, electric kiln, small steel hammermill for small amounts of gravel/rocks, balls for a ball mill (no ball mill yet), large plastic containers (3'x3'), orp meter and a host of other items. Then about 10 years ago his house burned down and he lost the incentive to do anything with what he has since he rebuilt his house with his own two hands, and operates his farm.
I am looking for a transfer closer to home so i can do some experimenting with small batch leaching or other chemical extraction of high grade gravel (proved to be very rich in gold and silver when assayed). I basicly know little about the mining industry and want to do it for a hobby in 1/4 to 1/2 ton batches. I want to start VERY small 5-10 lb batches in buckets and it seems like this is a perfect place to start since i am going to start with a batch of motherboards.
I know that probably sounds like lofty goals, and potentially dangerous but at least i have some experience in a lab, if my dad would try this alone he may not be around long.
My motivation is partly sharing a hobby with my dad and part that i like experimenting with things.
I am excited, but a little nerous because what i don't know yet... i will likely not start any experimenting until next spring after the snow melts so that gives me a LOT of time to read!
About me, I have taken some college Chemistry, lots of math and 1st and second year engineering classes, and i have worked part time in a lab doing soil, water and manure testing when i was in college. I have always been interested in precious metals but have never done much more than a little panning for gold and i found this place loking for some answers since my dad acquired a medium sized box of motherboards and i was tasked with figuring out how to extract PM.
My dad was an ameture prospector and has acquired some valuable items for prospecting with bigger things in mind, and thank god he didn't attempt what he had in mind. My dad acquired a micron mill wave table, electric kiln, small steel hammermill for small amounts of gravel/rocks, balls for a ball mill (no ball mill yet), large plastic containers (3'x3'), orp meter and a host of other items. Then about 10 years ago his house burned down and he lost the incentive to do anything with what he has since he rebuilt his house with his own two hands, and operates his farm.
I am looking for a transfer closer to home so i can do some experimenting with small batch leaching or other chemical extraction of high grade gravel (proved to be very rich in gold and silver when assayed). I basicly know little about the mining industry and want to do it for a hobby in 1/4 to 1/2 ton batches. I want to start VERY small 5-10 lb batches in buckets and it seems like this is a perfect place to start since i am going to start with a batch of motherboards.
I know that probably sounds like lofty goals, and potentially dangerous but at least i have some experience in a lab, if my dad would try this alone he may not be around long.
My motivation is partly sharing a hobby with my dad and part that i like experimenting with things.
I am excited, but a little nerous because what i don't know yet... i will likely not start any experimenting until next spring after the snow melts so that gives me a LOT of time to read!
