How to extract gold from this sample?

[Zacksgold]

Below is an image of sand that has been dug out from a beach shore in the pacific islands that is known to contain gold. This is the result after using a magnet to take out all of the ferrous content. If possible, I would like to know all of the efficient and fast options to extract gold from this type of sample. Panning isn’t very helpful as the gold is very fine and some is actually mixed with the sand particles. Please do advise me on the best possible extraction method. And please feel free to ask me questions to reach a solution faster.



Thanks

 

[goldshark]

There are lots of techniques, now the question is how much do you have, and how much are you looking to invest?

 

[nickvc]

There are several people on YouTube who face similar problems and they show their ideas and processes, the two who come to mind are Flour Gold Wizard and VoGus prospecting, they are fairly small time prospectors but their methods might help you to decide which way you want to go.

 

[Zacksgold]

There are lots of techniques, now the question is how much do you have, and how much are you looking to invest?

A beach full of this, lets assume budget is not a problem. what do you have in mind? (as long as it doesnt go into tractor territory we should be good with budget )

 

[Yggdrasil]

Below is an image of sand that has been dug out from a beach shore in the pacific islands that is known to contain gold. This is the result after using a magnet to take out all of the ferrous content. If possible, I would like to know all of the efficient and fast options to extract gold from this type of sample. Panning isn’t very helpful as the gold is very fine and some is actually mixed with the sand particles. Please do advise me on the best possible extraction method. And please feel free to ask me questions to reach a solution faster.



Thanks

You need to concentrate it somehow.
And magnets for removing the magnetic fraction may or may not be good as some places that is where much of the Gold is.
First you need an assay to pinpoint the amount of Gold and then you need to find how the values are distributed through the samples.

The key word is Assay.

Edit for spelling

 

[goldshark]

I am assuming (making an ass out of u and me ), that this is a beach placer. Old dried up beach, or water on the beach shore beach? Particle size of other components ( quartz sand and other minerals ) relative to the Gold particle size, is an important factor. If you can classify ( screen ) out the larger particles, to where you can get an approximate size particle no bigger than about 5 times the size of the average Gold particle, you should be able to get a fairly good concentration with a water sluice system, or concentrating tables. Since a fire assay will show very small amounts, hence of no real value in a placer mine, the only way to assay is to run a known quantity, say 10 yards, and figure what you get in Gold. If it pays hand shoveling, great. If not, then you may need heavy equipment. A lot of planning and testing goes into a paying mine. A Gold pan operation in todays world, will only send you to poverty, if it is your only means of income.

 

[Zacksgold]

You need to comcentrate it somehow.
And magnets for removing the magnetic fraction may or may not be good as some places that is where much of the Gold is.
First you need an assay to pinpoint the amount of Gold and then you need to find how the values are distributed threough the samples.

The key word is Assay.

yes so it was concentrated using a magnet which pulled out quite a big chunk of the sample shown in the picture above (maybe close to third), this process was repeated 10 times (so the amount concentrated was 10 times the amount shown in the above image). then a non effecient diy made millee was used and the result can be seen in the image provided here. I want a more effecient and speedy method. perhaps with chemicals?

Thanks

 

[Yggdrasil]

A beach full of this, lets assume budget is not a problem. what do you have in mind? (as long as it doesnt go into tractor territory we should be good with budget )

The Pacific is big (maybe large is better).
I have a friend that co owns a mining operation for black sand on an island.
They are mining for Chromite in the black sand but a significant part of the income comes from Gold in the black sand.
So I expect it is processed by smelting the black sand.
I have actually not asked much as he is not very forthcoming regarding this operation.

My point is, you need to determine which fraction most of the Gold is.