Old Prospector Makes Good

[Nountaineer]

If the advertised 2460 is accurate then it will be especially useable with the additional preheating of the propane to 2500+.

I wonder if a propane furnace will even get hot enough to smelt your ore?

I wonder if a propane furnace will even get hot enough to smelt your ore?

 

[Nountaineer]

Can you please provide us with this flux recipe

Kurt

This has been posted twice, did you get it?

 

[goldshark]

I was talking too Mountaineer about his furnace I'm not having a problem with smelting or melting chill out. Our gold is on the way to town from todays smelt.

I was replying to your post, and not directing this towards you. I am merely pointing out that a lot of people could benefit from reading the book on assaying in the library section. This would answer many questions on the subject, and keep away a lot of ill feelings between people who are trying to help.

 

[Yggdrasil]

This has been posted twice, did you get it?

He is not here at the time, patience mate.

 

[Nountaineer]

I will try to be more concise. This deposit is World Class and produces it's own platinum paydirt from jarosite ore with 58 percent iron as magnetite in the massive crystal variety of this ore. I have millions of dollars in placer(loose) ore. To work with. There is black platinum crystals and metal in with the magnetite from this large deposit. This ore is unique as the 9.37 oz) gold /ton is not visible to the naked eye, the dressed one either. I am trying to raise cash to buy truck and trailer to haul this placer ore to the refinery in Utah, therefore need to process and sell some of it.

I will try to continue with my thread. I am firing for the 5th time and am using a 8 kg crucible that had a build up of platinum group metal, possibly platinum which fused to the crucible and built up about 2 ounces in the bottom half. I realized that I was adding air and heat incorrectly by using only a heat gun. 2300 was my highest temperature but now I am at 2461 which is the factory rated temperature for the first time. I am using my powdered metal containing platinum palladium and gold extracted from the placer at at least 50 percent this time and with additional gold as a collection metal. Last time I fired for 3.5 hours and am firing for 4 hours at this highest temperature.

 

[kurtak]

Yes, one part carbon, ten parts silica, 20 parts borax and 30 parts washing soda.

2300 was my highest temperature but now I am at 2461 which is the factory rated temperature for the first time.

Sorry I have not had time to reply to things you have been posting - just to busy

That said - because I am not right there to see what your molten smelt load looks like I can't say for sure but I am willing to bet that part of your smelting problems are not so much a problem of getting your furnace hot enough (2100 F should be plenty hot) but rather that your smelt load is not running thin/fluid enough once it becomes molten

You likely need to add a thinning agent to your flux so that the slag runs more fluid when the smelt load becomes molten --- I would add some fluorspar (calcium fluoride) to my flux to help get the molten slag to run more fluid

Also I see the molds you are using (in the pic next to your furnace) are regular rectangular molds --- if you are going to smelt you need to get a cone mold - you will get MUCH better separation of the metal from slag if you use a cone mold instead of the molds you are using

I will "try" to address the copper/collector metal issue in the future if when time allows (no promise though)

In the mean time read ALL of this thread - it should answer MANY of your questions ------------

https://goldrefiningforum.com/threads/smelting.25592/
Kurt

 

[Nountaineer]

Sorry I have not had time to reply to things you have been posting - just to busy

That said - because I am not right there to see what your molten smelt load looks like I can't say for sure but I am willing to bet that part of your smelting problems are not so much a problem of getting your furnace hot enough (2100 F should be plenty hot) but rather that your smelt load is not running thin/fluid enough once it becomes molten

You likely need to add a thinning agent to your flux so that the slag runs more fluid when the smelt load becomes molten --- I would add some fluorspar (calcium fluoride) to my flux to help get the molten slag to run more fluid

Also I see the molds you are using (in the pic next to your furnace) are regular rectangular molds --- if you are going to smelt you need to get a cone mold - you will get MUCH better separation of the metal from slag if you use a cone mold instead of the molds you are using

I will "try" to address the copper/collector metal issue in the future if when time allows (no promise though)

In the mean time read ALL of this thread - it should answer MANY of your questions ------------

https://goldrefiningforum.com/threads/smelting.25592/
Kurt

Thank you and yes you are correct about the slag being too thick and I understand about the molds. These are for refining more than smelting. It is difficult to get a button with those. I actually have High hopes for the 100 ounce mold.

 

[Nountaineer]

I have been looking for instructions for calcium fluoride usage since I just ordered some but have not found it in my search. Any suggestions?

 

[PeterM]

Use it sparingly otherwise it will eat a hole 🕳 in your crucible. See the book A Textbook on Fire Assaying by Bugbee he’s the standard in the Industry

 

[Nountaineer]

Thank you

 

[Nountaineer]

Wouldn't the corp be interested in funding on a partner basis?

Sorry for missing your post. My situation is unusual at best because I have not been offered assistance , just access to the ore for now. The corporation will likely break ground on a new refinery as soon as 2024. This deposit is measured in sections, not just a few patented claims.

 

[Nountaineer]

Wouldn't the corp be interested in funding on a partner basis?

I responded to this but I don't see it so I will do it again. Mine is an unusual situation. This is a multiple billion dollar deposit and I am lucky to have access to it. It is measured in sections and not just patented claims. I don't want to press my luck. This corporation will likely break ground on a new refinery in 2024 to handle this huge deposit. My own silver deposit is considered to be reserves so It won't be available for funding my efforts . I suspect that I will be involved somehow with the corporation in the future.

 

[Nountaineer]

My responses are not getting included on a timely manor causing duplications.

 

[Nountaineer]

I am upgrading from the 8 kg to 10 kg crucible. I only got about 4 smelts out of my last one due to less than adequate hardening and the use of calcium fluoride. I have 4 new ones coming along with a bag of whiting and a set of new tongs. I will heat it to over 2300. Is that too hot for this process. I also am now paying less than $40 for the 10 kg crucible delivered, Is there a better price on these elsewhere?