New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

The forum has moved to community.paydirt.co.nz, see you there!

This forum is now an archive to preserve the knowledge and finds posted here.

gold and quartz

NiN		Posted : Wednesday, 29 February 2012 6:05:26 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 10/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 31 Location: dunedin Thanks: 7 times Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 2 post(s)		hi does any one know how to get the gold out of a nugget that is half quartz. what woul happen if i smash it with a hammer? woul the quartz break away from the gold? or would it just ruin it? cheers.

Shilo		Posted : Wednesday, 29 February 2012 6:13:04 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 29/01/2011(UTC) Posts: 573 Location: Kawhia Thanks: 17 times Was thanked: 285 time(s) in 185 post(s)		Why separate it? The piece could have a lot more worth as a "specimen" with the quartz matrix still attached then its value as a nugget or melt. If you still want to do it then it will probably require refining to get all the gold content out (crushed then the dust refined). Here's one site for the methods: http://www.goldrefiningforum.com/phpBB3/index.php but the guys on this forum should be able to fill you in.
		BLOG

Lammerlaw		Posted : Wednesday, 29 February 2012 6:35:54 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 24/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,721 Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 579 time(s) in 396 post(s)		How large is it and leave it as it is! Photo please with something beside it to gauge size. If you wanted to sell the gold then I might be prepared to do a deal in your favour if it is large enough.

NiN		Posted : Wednesday, 29 February 2012 7:43:53 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 10/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 31 Location: dunedin Thanks: 7 times Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 2 post(s)		thanks for the info was just curious to know .but since you guys say to leave it then thats that. lammerlaw its just a wee fella 2grams if that cant get photo at the mo sorry.

NiN		Posted : Wednesday, 29 February 2012 8:34:15 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 10/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 31 Location: dunedin Thanks: 7 times Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 2 post(s)		[img]null[/img. NiN attached the following image(s):

NiN		Posted : Wednesday, 29 February 2012 8:37:06 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 10/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 31 Location: dunedin Thanks: 7 times Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 2 post(s)		sorry about the quallity

1864hatter		Posted : Wednesday, 29 February 2012 9:00:40 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,007 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 49 times Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)		Still a bit of gold! It's pretty dark looking, I quite like those 'ugly" pieces of gold that arnt just bright standard nuggets. Not that I complain when I do find them!! Not that it matters, but might I ask how you found this piece? Personally Im into detecting and sniping. Edited by user Wednesday, 29 February 2012 9:04:06 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!

Lammerlaw		Posted : Wednesday, 29 February 2012 10:01:17 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 24/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,721 Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 579 time(s) in 396 post(s)		Originally Posted by: NiN sorry about the quallity Thanks for that - you did your best and put a photo on and thats all that matters - thanks. I once found a piece of quartz and gold - a nice nugget about quarter of an ounce including the quartz once so I demurred over - 'wll I, wont I, will I, wont I, will I wont I until out came the hammer and I gave it a tap - need I say more - I have never tried that trick again because the gold nugget flew into several separate much smaller bits of gold and looked ugly. If you leave it as it is you can have no regrets. It is nice as it is and has its own character and if the truth be known would sell for more as a nice Gold/quartz specimen. Hmm - Will I or wont I?

NiN		Posted : Wednesday, 29 February 2012 10:28:56 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 10/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 31 Location: dunedin Thanks: 7 times Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 2 post(s)		OH that wouldnt be good im glad i didint try that then as ugly as my wee nugget is but thats ok its the only one ive found so far so i shal keep it for the sake of it.cheers.

Shilo		Posted : Wednesday, 29 February 2012 10:47:07 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 29/01/2011(UTC) Posts: 573 Location: Kawhia Thanks: 17 times Was thanked: 285 time(s) in 185 post(s)		If you want it to look "pretty" you could always clean it up with some sort of rust remover. Most dark colouration in quartz is due to a form of iron oxide (rust) and I'm sure most of the white quartz / yellow gold specimens sold have had this iron leached out with chemicals. I think you can even dissolve the quartz without effecting the gold. Some googling will show the methods. But personally because it is a first, I would also keep it as is - will bring back more memories then a clinically cleaned specimen. One day I will get my first.... :)
		BLOG

kiwijw		Posted : Wednesday, 29 February 2012 10:47:17 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,152 Thanks: 92 times Was thanked: 658 time(s) in 324 post(s)		Originally Posted by: NiN hi does any one know how to get the gold out of a nugget that is half quartz. what woul happen if i smash it with a hammer? woul the quartz break away from the gold? or would it just ruin it? cheers. If you put it in nitric acid the acid will disolve the quartz & other impurities but leave the gold. Dangerous stuff to mess with & probably shouldnt have been mentiond. A lot of guys in Aussie do this to an otherwise ugly bit of gold to improve its value. It cleans the gold up as well. You could crush it & then pan off the gold. It will of course munterfy the gold that would then be best to melt back together as a blob. For a 2 gram bit not worth it & best left as it is. Your pic wasnt very clear. JW :)

NiN		Posted : Wednesday, 29 February 2012 10:56:50 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 10/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 31 Location: dunedin Thanks: 7 times Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 2 post(s)		yeh cheers guys think ill just leave it like the man said its only 2g so may as well . not worth burning myself with acid. yes the pic is crap just took it with phone . (hatter found it looking in a crevice)