How Do You Quickly Identify Metals? Eg. silver, platinum ect

[austexdude]

Hi everyone!

I am fairly new to this, BUT, I am very interested.

This is what I want to do.

I want to set up an area where copper, alum, silver, gold, platinum, pallidium, and any other valuable metal can be seperated. I want to save this up for a number of years (until just before the dollar completly tanks out) and then cash it all in.

Here is my question.

Can someone help me to be able to determine the various types on elements and the methods used to do this?

 

[Harold_V]

Read Hoke.

You should also research Schwerter's solution, which is used for an instant test for silver.

Harold

 

[austexdude]

Thank you so much my friend!

I will have to follow up on that.

 

[Lou]

Generally I do it by taste. If it tastes like gold, probably is


Aside from the joke, your best bet is to read Hoke, both her refining book, and her book (also available free on this forum) on testing.

 

[Anonymous]

I use the Acid test ordered from e-bay.

 

[Richard36]

Yes, I can help you out. So can my suggested books. Feel free to contact me, and I'll point you in the right direction, or you can send me samples, and I can Identify the metals, as well as separate, and refine them for you. Sincerely;Rick

 

[Harold_V]

Yes, I can help you out. So can my suggested books. Feel free to contact me, and I'll point you in the right direction, or you can send me samples, and I can Identify the metals, as well as separate, and refine them for you. Sincerely;Rick

I am seeing a consistent pattern of you offering readers to call you, making your information not avaialbe to anyone but the one that calls. That isn't how this forum operates. If you have something to share, do it publicly. If you intend to become a valued and welcome member of this forum, stop the spamming.

There will be no further warnings. Any future spam will be deleted. Be advised.

Moderators----follow up in my absence, please.

Harold

 

[steveonmars]

There will be no further warnings. Any future spam will be deleted. Be advised.

Moderators----follow up in my absence, please.

Harold

Thanks harold, too many of us read this forum for the info available. Someone like this doesn't need to be selling info on the side by using this forum.

BTW does anyone have a link to the free Hoke testing book, I haven't heard of that one so I'd like to get it.

Thanks,

Steve

 

[patnor1011]

http://rapidshare.com/files/204807747/Refining_Precious_Metal_Wastes_C_1__1_.M_Hoke.pdf

repaired link

 

[Oz]

Patner,

Thanks for sharing that with the forum but rapidshare says “file not found, please check the link”.

 

[steveonmars]

Patner,

I had the same error. Maybe someone has another link? I'll search for it again and if I find it I'll post a link.

Thanks

Steve

 

[steveonmars]

Harold, I've been looking for somewhere to buy the Schwerter's solution. ebay didn't have any. Can you tell me where to find it?

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Harold_V]

Harold, I've been looking for somewhere to buy the Schwerter's solution. ebay didn't have any. Can you tell me where to find it?

Thanks,

Steve

It's nothing more than potassium dichromate dissolved in reagent nitric acid and distilled water. Could be tech grade would suffice. I never tried it. I would recommend against using tap water.

I recall that I used about 20 grains (15.432 grains = 1 gram) of potassium dichromate dissolved in 3/4 ounce of nitric, and 1/4 ounce of distilled water. That's enough solution to do a huge number of tests. Place your solution in a bottle with a glass dabber, with a ground glass stopper. Plastics do not hold up well with this substance. You can buy those nice little bottles at jewelry supply houses, or from chemical supply houses.

All this stuff does is dissolve traces of silver, which react with a blood red color. The solution, as prepared, is a deep bright orange color, and translucent. The reaction will be opaque, so once you've seen the reaction, it will be obvious to you when you have silver present.

If you test materials that are either copper based or nickel based, you will see a greenish color develop instead of red. If you test stainless or platinum group metals, you see no reaction at all.

Hope this helps.

Harold

 

[Palladium]

Starting on page 88 of hoke's book it explains how to test for all metals. I read it last night and it was most interesting.

:wink: :wink: :wink:

 

[patnor1011]

here is the link again:
http://rapidshare.com/files/204807747/Refining_Precious_Metal_Wastes_C_1__1_.M_Hoke.pdf

 

[steveonmars]

patnor,
Thanks. I already have it and it's great. Everyone needs to download this if they don't have the book.

Harold,
I did find it (I think) on ebay. It's sold as silver testing acid and looks like it's a pinkish to redish color. Does that sound right? It's also sold in the same little .5 oz plastic bottles the gold test acids are sold in. Would it be OK to leave it in the plastic or should I tranfer it to glass? I hate using glass if I can avoid it just because of the potential for accidents. Also, a .5 oz would last me forever so it would be easier to just pay someone on ebay rather than try to make it myself.

Thanks guys,

Steve

 

[Harold_V]

If they're using plastic, it likely is a grade that will resist nitric. As for the color, think of mercurochrome. If it resembles that, that's the right color. Unless the price is outlandish, it's worth a try. If you were near I'd give you the potassium dichromate. I have a pound or more, which I intend to use in the passivation of 300 series stainless.

Harold

 

[steveonmars]

Harold,

Thanks, I see the potassium dichromate is selling for $10 a pound on ebay (+ $7 shipping) and I'd never use anywhere near that much so I'll try the testing solution. I looked up potassium dichromate on wiki and it's a red color so the color of the testing solution looks right. They just don't call it Schwerter's solution and use the generic silver testing acid name for people who don't know what it's real anme is.

Palladium,

I noticed your link for the Gold Refining Forum Handbook VOL 2 (Final) here. I dodn't know it was finally done. I just started reading it and it looks great so far. Thanks for the link!

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

I want to set up an area where copper, alum, silver, gold, platinum, pallidium, and any other valuable metal can be seperated. I want to save this up for a number of years (until just before the dollar completly tanks out) and then cash it all in.

This is a bad plan. You want to save up and then trade something of intrinsic value for worthless paper? You might want to rethink that.

Peace

 

[qst42know]

If the silver test acid you are looking at is the same as being offered with the gold test acids its not Schwerter's solution. It is for testing "Sterling silver" it will not indicate if an item contains silver.

The color is brownish pink and a drop on Sterling or better leaves a pure white spot, if its not sterling the color of the drop turns green, blue, or gray.

The front of the label reads "Silver Testing Solution". I would guess it is only stabilized AR as the label says it contains nitric and HCL. I bought some with the karat streak test solutions from a local jewelers supply house.