How To Get More Gold From Gold Smelting: The Matte Problem

Matte is a problem for anyone trying to smelt down their gold or silver concentrates into precious metal buttons. This video shows how to re-process matte to recover the lost precious metals, and also talks about how to prevent it from forming in the first place.

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Complete Smelting Kits:

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[freeman]

Always good to see you learning and not afraid to show your mistakes a long the way. The best way to learn is by trial and error, don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

[johnhunt]

Thank you so much for sharing your research. It is very interesting. I notice two things about your videos. 1) The large number of failed crucibles you experience. 2) You picking up hot, heavy crucibles by their lip. I was always told that was a bad practice, that crucibles at high temps are weak and fragile. Maybe get a set of tongs for lifting the crucible from the bottom/sides like you see every metal caster using for the initial lift. Thanks again for making and sharing these videos.

[paraglidingprospector]

Dood is literally explaining the science behind smelting... amazing!

[yannickgilbert]

are you curing your crucibles in an oven before using them? the extra moisture in uncured crucibles could explain then breaking prematurely.

[snarky_user]

I applaud your attempts to find the perfect flux recipe. You seem to continually run into the standard problems that divert the process to wet chemistry and electrolysis for economic reasons. I hope you find a viable mix. Having to account for crucible chemistry is a unexpected pain.

Regarding the copper sulfides, they are difficult because there will be a wide range of oxidation states. Copper-sulphur compounds tend to be more covalent than one would expect and generally bring other elements into the party. One starts to understand why much of our precious metals come as by-products of copper purification.

[zacharystansell]

This was one of the most interesting MBMM vids so far!

[richardrodgers]

Sweet! I'm in Japan on an Army base and don't have a HOPE of doing any of this or acquiring the machines ... but I'll be danged ... I love this channel. Our host is smart, articulate, and very authoritative. Great for fighting the coronovirus too!

[Gompiebert]

Very interesting and detailed video, keep it up Jason!

[tinamitchell]

Try thermite, Corey can show you how to add water to make a slurry, then rub on to the unshine shined side of a piece of aluminum, then bake until dry, then roll and squash well, then set on fire.

[arronknowlton]

Love your videos. Please make a tilting furnace. Seems like it would be much safer and easy to do based on your current simple design. Thanks so much

[shaneyork]

I love to watch these experiments and see reaults!! Looking forward to part 2!!
Have a GREAT Day!!!

[tadvanallen]

Looking forward to the electro/copper removal process.. would of never thought, that copper would be a pain in the assay. Ha all new stuff to me. Fun to learn about..

[barryfields]

You’re videos reminds me of something my brother told me one time. My brother is a bee keeper. And he said why would I buy honey for $25 a quart when I can make it my self for $50 a quart?

[michael]

CuS + C + 2NaOH --> Na2S + Cu + CO2
Add flour to the mix. Reaction can be done in iron pot.

[damxgopak]

Trying to get this right has been hard.thanks for your info.

[skeets]

OMG you make my head hurt trying to remember my chem labs!! Good job

[intellectualiconoclasm]

Honest question @9:30, why didn't you just add micro iron filings to the flux charge?

[woodsoundsflutes]

This is exactly the issue I have been trying to figure out here in Utah. nearly all the gold deposits have a hi amount of copper in them. Separating the copper has been tough. Have not used electrowinning yet though. Have to get some more equipment for that. I really appreciate your vids. Great work and a super honest vid. I loved it.

[rcketplumber]

If the matte by definition consists of sulphides, the first step really seems to be to grind it and roast to convert to oxide. That would remove any need for iron and prevent any chance of making a sulphide matte again. Why do things the hard way?

[scotthack]

Jason, aside from the electrolytic process you could do inquarting
to get rid of your copper.