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.

A peculiar project. - I'm making a lightbulb from scratch. Searching for Copper and Tungsten.

JWK		Posted : Monday, 16 November 2015 3:30:15 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 16/11/2015(UTC) Posts: 2 Location: Dunedin		Hello there. I joined this forum with a single intention. I am hoping to construct a working lightbulb from scratch and need all the help I can get. I am based in Dunedin and would like to source all the raw materials for the glass, cables, filament and photo-voltaic cells from the Otago region. I am looking to your community for help in finding an extractable source of copper, using the rather rudimentary means of my own labor and sweat. I am looking to extract somewhere in the region of 10-20kg of copper all up. Secondly I seek Scheelite to extract tungsten from. Does anybody here have any knowledge which would help me in my endeavor? I really am a bit clueless so anything would help. Very best, and thanks in advance John Ward Knox University of Otago Frances Hodgkins Fellow.
		WWW

oroplata		Posted : Monday, 16 November 2015 4:04:15 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered, Moderators Joined: 16/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,040 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 23 times Was thanked: 211 time(s) in 152 post(s)		That's an interesting project! So you're not only going to build the incandescent bulb, but also a solar cell to power it from? Unfortunately, I know nothing of where to go in Otago for different minerals. Keep us updated!
		WWW

LittleKiwiDetecting		Posted : Monday, 16 November 2015 5:42:16 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 7/11/2015(UTC) Posts: 236 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 308 times Was thanked: 54 time(s) in 44 post(s)		I have a little bit of scrap copper. It's quite corroded though.
		Fisher F22 2016 Pre-decimals: 10 Best Finds: German Pistol, Horse bit, Lead Belt Buckle

GoldPandemic		Posted : Tuesday, 17 November 2015 5:14:53 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 27/10/2014(UTC) Posts: 350 Location: Auckland Thanks: 266 times Was thanked: 141 time(s) in 102 post(s)		There is some Copper deposits in Dun Mountain near Nelson. Also Scheelite (tungsten) in Glenorchy. I'll be headed down on a full trip of the South Island shortly with a detector (if I'm able to construct my coil I can find metals at over 1m deep.)
		Treasure/coins: $1 Other artifacts: 1888 button Lead: 914g Copper: 46

JWK		Posted : Friday, 20 November 2015 1:24:12 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 16/11/2015(UTC) Posts: 2 Location: Dunedin		Thanks for the replies. Very generous to offer LKD but I wish to gather everything myself. Sounds masochistic huh.. Yes the idea is to create the power cells as well, and I'm beginning to think I'll have to make a rudimentary battery also. I have learned of the Waitahuna Copper load and of the Moke Creek fossicking site so I have a few scratchy clues to start from.
		WWW

LittleKiwiDetecting		Posted : Friday, 20 November 2015 2:32:01 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 7/11/2015(UTC) Posts: 236 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 308 times Was thanked: 54 time(s) in 44 post(s)		I think you will have fun but the copper corrodes quite a bit but I'm no metal expert. I think mud wiggle might know a bit so I think you should ask him. Good luck on your project and I wish to hear more.
		Fisher F22 2016 Pre-decimals: 10 Best Finds: German Pistol, Horse bit, Lead Belt Buckle

1864hatter		Posted : Friday, 20 November 2015 6:05:19 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)		For scheelite, take a uv light up to deepdell stamping battery. Scheelite can be found there on the hillsides and steam. Scheelite flouresces under uv light. Night time would be best. I have a bit about 1.5 kg in weight from there
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!