Gold Smelting Test! Determining the Best Gold Recovery Flux

In this video, we test out various gold smelting fluxes to determine which is the best for gold recovery. We will be using different fluxes to melt down gold concentrate and see which yields the highest gold recovery. We will also discuss the different types of fluxes, their properties, and their impact on the smelting process.

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Filming Equipment:

Complete Smelting Kits:

Fluxes:

Smelting Supplies:

Furnace Building Supplies:

Underground Mining Equipment:

Keywords: gold smelting, gold recovery, smelting fluxes, fluxes for gold, gold concentrate, melting gold, gold mining

Tags: #goldsmelting #goldrecovery #smeltingfluxes #fluxesforgold #goldconcentrate #meltinggold #goldmining
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[rockman]

Hi Jason, Excellent experiment! You've probably got at least 100 You-Tubers that would love to be your "lab" assistant! Your down-to-earth explanations make you a pleasure to watch and learn from!! You're a GREAT teacher! Thank You for all your hard work & research! Stay Safe! Jim

[rlmiller]

In 1977 I worked in a gold mill. Knob Hill mining Republic Wa. This is how we process the ore to recover 99% of the gold. After the crusher and clarifier the very fine ore was put into some solution that included pine oil. The pine oil frothed up making foam. On top of the foam you could see lots of trails of gold. Really they often were "gold bubbles". Paddles with air bladders would rotate, horizontally, through the foam, slopping it over the outside edge of the container. This "concentrate" would fall to the floor of a locked room below. Thsi would go straight to the smelter. When I first saw in the room the concentrate had been shaped into a long row wall to wall about a foot wide at the top and about 6-8 inches deep. The sides we sharply slopped so an accurate measurement could be taken. The next step is where I took over. The muddy solution that was left over (about the density of a thin milk shake) was sent to two large cylindrical containers. Chemicals were added here and then the solution was sent to many other vats of similar sizes until it ended up at the thicker. The "thicker" is the same as they use in a sewage treatment plant. 60' foot across and 3 stories high. The gold was suspended and reduced to a particular size using cyanide. This (clear as drinking water) "Preg" (for "pregnant" with gold) would spill over the side at the top. It would then be combined with zinc in some vacuum chamber. After this the only thing left was gold, silver, zinc particles that combined at a very exact size. This was ran through four locked tanks that held "sock" like bags. (we called it the bag tanks) 144 socks in each of the four tanks. When removed the each held about 10-12 inches of this gold rich concentrate. The water was then pumped back up to the mine. I always thought the process was facinating.

[Brianandthetwinscoins]

Man i love going to school with you. You explain and teach us so much.

[disgruntledtoons]

The greatest contribution anyone can make to their field is to try new things and see what delivers better results.

[hardrockuniversity]

Have you tried a similar test with litharge instead of lead? If the gold particles are very small (likely in sulfides) they will have trouble settling through the slag to the lead. We have a problem with vaporization from the resin, up to 50% losses if we ash first. However with a litharge fire assay we get good agreement with the solution mass balance and XRF of the resin. Freezing up for the season tomorrow, so we will move from the mine and mill to the lab for the winter.

[OregonAuExploration]

Enjoying the smelting videos, thanks Jason for sharing.

[BearWaace]

Just commenting in support of a great channel. Keep up the good work Jason.

[alanmoffat]

As a retired Industrial Chemist I enjoy the metalogical chemistry.

[Michael-rgmx]

I'm going to brainstorm. The insulation on the furnace is lacking. The flame needs a short run to burn then contact the crucible. The incoming air needs to blow upwards, surrounding the burner to keep it from melting. Use enough air to combust the gas, any excess will cool the crucible. A stainless sheet around the crucible will reflect heat in. Insulate the outside. A thick piece of cast for the lid. A chimney to outside. Carbon monoxide is poisonous. So are metal fumes etc. Just some ideas for a permanent furnace.

Love watching. Great show!

[snarky_user]

Another factor driving the choice of chemical is your desired environment within the crucible. If you want a reducing atmosphere with the crucible, then you would certainly use the carbonate. The CO2 will be heavier than atmospheric oxygen and act as a barrier to intrusion into your melt. If you desired an oxygenating environment, then the carbonate would be counter productive.

[f.k.burnham]

I really appreciate your doing these experiments. They answered some questions I had. Please continue with the experiments, as I find them very educational. Thanks.

[brodiedean]

Always worth a look. I'm just happy to learn something new every time 🧐

[xyzabc]

I love this series. Please feel free to get geeky with the chemistry and maths.

[angusmcnaughton]

Thanks man 👍 I love this stuff so much I built a big stainless steel furnace. I still need some big crucibles . Keep the content coming !

[RJ-zmtr]

Thanks Jason, always enjoy your videos!

[bobcansee]

Very good video Jason. I like how you break it all down. Good job! Like you I was hoping a better yield. Thanks for sharing!

[ProspectorTripp]

Really good work Jason. I too was hoping for a richer sample, however I have some low grade stuff that I may recover in a similar way. Glad it seems like there’s little difference in the recipe results.
Terrific, enjoyed, thanks sir
✌️PT

[parkerottoackley]

🔥 I've always wondered, , , , how much GAS is burnt during these test ????🔥
That cost is part of the process too.
Thanks brother

[joshuajackson]

Thank you, Jason. I love your experiments!

[ramalama]

I love the energy you put into your explanations……..for me it’s “geological gold”……..keep them coming…….I love your channel!!