Even the word “gold” itself has a magical effect on a person, not to mention its appearance. Let dreams of gold-bearing rivers and mines remain dreams. However, for those who still want to feel like a gold miner, we can offer a very real way - gold mining at home. Of course, we are not talking about kilograms, but you can get enough metal to use it for practical purposes.
Gold from radio components and other things
Not everyone can imagine what exactly gold can be extracted from. Meanwhile, there are many such things. In particular, suitable for our purposes:
- cheap old jewelry;
- radio components from failed devices;
- capacitors;
- microchips;
- watch.
Lamps from old receivers and televisions created before the start of the semiconductor era will also work.
It is quite easy to extract precious metal from Soviet resistors, transistors and other parts. In the past, gold was often added to them, which made it possible to significantly extend their service life.
From modern technology it is worth taking:
- microcircuits;
- motherboards;
- processors.
Here the desired element is used to cover contact groups and the substrate. Of course, the gold content is negligible - 1 percent at best, but if you got the electronics for nothing, then the activity will more than pay for itself.
We recommend paying special attention to capacitors manufactured in the USSR for military needs. Here, in particular, in addition to gold, there is usually also pure silver. The lucky ones who managed to find the first modifications of these elements received from one to several grams of yellow precious metal and up to 50 of white.
Gold was also used for sputtering in radio tubes. The most valuable part of them is the mesh surrounding the cathode. This increased thermal conductivity, which protected against overheating and extended the service life.
What is the refining procedure?
Advances in technology are helping to transform jewelry production. The emergence of refining production as one of the most optimal and practical types of technological work with precious metals is due to the growing demand for jewelry.
The following objects can serve as raw materials for refining production:
- scrap jewelry;
- gold mining concentrates;
- spot gold;
- waste from the refining of various metals;
- "silver foam" and much more.
Thus, gold refining can be defined as a set of special technological measures that are aimed at producing gold of the highest quality and purity. Such a complex includes several purification stages, during which the yellow precious metal is purified from impurities (other metals) using one of the alternative methods (chemical or electrolytic).
Industrial refining process
How to get gold
The easiest way to extract gold from microcircuits and other junk is using a chemical method. For this, a special composition called “royal vodka” is used. It is made from the following components:
- nitric acid – 1 part;
- salt – 3.
The prepared reagent will have to be very carefully heated to 76 degrees. It is important to maintain the specified temperature until the procedure is completed.
When the “royal vodka” reaches the required condition, the object being processed is placed in it (it is advisable to break the microcircuits and remove everything non-metallic). The green tint of the solution will tell us about the beginning of the reaction.
In order to bind gold, table salt is poured into a container, this is the only way the precious metal will not evaporate. Powder is added at the rate of 2 grams per 100 milliliters of volume. In addition to this, you need to add to the same 100 ml:
- exactly 2 ml of hydrochloric acid mixed with a spoonful of boiling water;
- hydroquinone (half percent solution) 1 ml.
The mixture is kept heated for up to 4 hours and stirred regularly. As a result, the liquid evaporates, and a sediment remains at the bottom - this is what we need. It, in turn, is washed with the same hydrochloric acid and then melted down. As a rule, the last stage takes only a few minutes, but will require a temperature of 1100 degrees.
This is actually how precious metal is extracted from old parts.
Where is this precious metal found?
Hundreds of tons of gold are used annually in the production of radio components and computer chips. Contacts made of this metal are characterized by high electrical conductivity, they are not subject to oxidation, and therefore are widely used.
Gold
is contained in the following components :
- diodes;
- transistors;
- glass electrodes;
- relay;
- ports;
- jumpers;
- motherboard memory modules.
Note that in practice there may be much less gold in radio components than there should be according to documents (especially in technical products made after 1989).
Advantages and disadvantages
In principle, the main advantage of the procedure described above is the low cost of chemicals and ease of manipulation.
However, in order to seriously engage in such gold mining, it is necessary:
- clearly understand which items specifically contain precious metals;
- where to find recyclable materials for recycling.
At the same time, the legislation directly prohibits any gold mining without obtaining official permission.
Another problem is that the further you go, the more difficult it is to find gold-containing objects for little money.
Draghi
Gold is also mined using dredges.
They are called floating mining machines that have dredging, processing or other equipment that provides comprehensive mechanization of the mining process. They enrich minerals and remove waste rocks. The purpose of dredges is to develop flooded mineral deposits and extract valuable components (gold, platinum, tin, etc.). They are used mainly in alluvial, deluvial, deep- and coastal-marine sedimentary and placer deposits. The only exceptions are bouldery, strong rocks and viscous clays.
How to mine gold from river sand yourself
Let us say right away that not all sand found at the bottom of streams and rivers contains precious metal. The source of the latter is a quartz layer emerging from the rock to the surface. It contains both crystalline and loose gold.
In general, according to the classification of deposits there are:
- primary are veins running inside rocks;
- secondary, that is, formed due to the destruction of quartz.
The released nuggets subsequently settle on the river bottom in the alluvial layer. It is for this reason that miners used to mine gold in streams flowing from the spurs of the mountains.
The most likely location for gold sand deposits is terraces. This is the name given to rock ledges on river banks. They are formed in the following way: water, flowing down, gradually oozes out of the stone bed, cutting deeper and deeper into it. As a result, there remain, as it were, steps leading to the riverbed. This is where you should look for signs of gold.
Due to its high specific gravity, the precious metal ultimately sinks to the very bottom of the river, therefore, in order to extract it, it is necessary to extract sediments to a solid base - nuggets are looked for in their lower layers.
Where to deliver the received material and at what price?
The gold ingot (barrel) obtained as a result of purification most often has insignificant weight. However, even in such quantities it is of interest to buyers.
Advertisements for buying gold can be easily found on the Internet or in local newspapers.
Often, solid metal is purchased by the same companies that buy radio components.
(for example, aluminum or brass) may also be interested in gold
If the buyer is in the same city as the seller, the transaction is completed upon visiting the specified address.
The buyer himself weighs the metal and checks its quality, after which he sets a price. Of course, if possible, it is advisable to check all offers on the market in order to choose the most profitable one. The bullion can be sent to another city by mail, cash on delivery.
Some pawnshops are also ready to accept goods of this kind. To find out at what price the establishment will be willing to purchase gold, contact a pawnshop employee. Another option is to submit an ad yourself . In this case, you just have to wait for a call from a potential buyer.
If you engage in refining on an industrial scale, you should rely on existing laws.
To legally engage in the circulation of precious metals, you need to register as an individual entrepreneur or create an LLC.
When selling gold, focus on its purity and market value.
The price per gram of 999 fine precious metal is set by the Central Bank of Russia . Since 2004, its prices have been continuously rising. The most significant jump was observed in 2021, when the cost exceeded 3 thousand rubles per gram.
How to get gold from a stream
More or less trained miners use portable dredges. Beginners make do with trays. The latter are round or rectangular. They are made from wood. Now, however, it is not difficult to buy ready-made plastic or metal ones. There is a special groove at the bottom that allows you to hold even inconspicuous gold flakes.
At the moment, such primitive equipment is usually used exclusively for reconnaissance purposes, that is, to determine the feasibility of artisanal mining.
Types of dredges
Dredges are divided into two classes.
- Offshore, with the help of which deposits in the coastal zone and deep mines in lakes and oceans are developed. They are mounted on keel towed or self-propelled vessels, which ensure operation in storms.
- Continental, which are used to develop deposits on continents. Mounted on a flat-bottomed boat.
Dredges are classified according to:
- the type of energy used by the drive mechanisms;
- deep excavations of rocks in the section below the water level;
- type of apparatus (many scoops with an intermittent chain, with a continuous chain, a rotary complex, a dragline bucket, a grab bucket);
- scoop capacities (large, medium and small);
- method of maneuvering (rope-anchor and rope-pile).
In the Russian Federation, dredges are now used for gold mining, mainly in the Far Eastern Federal District. However, mining by this method can negatively affect the ecosystem, destroy river landscapes, and severely pollute the area located downstream.
Therefore, this method can only be used if the development projects are carefully followed. Their implementation will require the reclamation of lands that have been disturbed by mining, as well as the restoration of forests, soil and vegetation of river valleys.
How to work with the tray
Having selected a promising location, it is necessary to begin washing out the sediments. This is done in the following order:
- scoop up sand from the bottom with a shovel;
- pour everything into the tray;
- Carefully immerse the container in water;
- rinse the rock by shaking and making circular movements;
- knead lumps and throw away large stones by hand;
- stop the procedure when only black small grains remain at the bottom;
- drain all but a small amount of water (about a teaspoon);
- Stir it well and dump the contents onto clean paper;
- let it dry and pour the grains into a bag.
The black particles are called concentrate - it is this that contains the gold. Do final cleaning at home. Iron crystals, in particular, are removed with a conventional magnet, and the remainder must be examined with a strong magnifying glass and sorted with tweezers.
"Golden Story"
Gold is a metal that humanity became familiar with at least 6,500 years ago. The oldest treasure is considered to be found in the Varna necropolis, which is located in Bulgaria, and the items are dated back to 4600 BC.
Gold has played an important role throughout human history and is still considered a reliable investment. Currencies have come and gone, but it has remained a universal and stable standard for thousands of years.
Owning this metal has always been prestigious. Not only wealth was assessed by the amount of gold, but position in society also depended on it. This is still the case today.
It was gold that was often the cause of wars and crimes, but at the same time it played a huge role in the progress of mankind in general. On its basis, a monetary system began to take shape, cultural values and architectural masterpieces were created, which are priceless and still amaze everyone. Thanks to the desire to produce this metal, scientists obtained many chemical elements, and gold rushes helped to discover and develop new lands.
