My real passion - Prospecting

[bc.gold 3,403]

I've enjoyed my time here but It's that time of year, I'll packing up my gear in search of riches in far off places. 

 

So I bid you all fare well.

 

 

 

[JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,498]

Where do you go? My wife and I panned for gold in northern California MANY years ago while visiting her brother. We got a few specs, it was fun. Be safe and good luck. 

 

Glenn

[ebinmaine 69,239]

Safe travels...

[bc.gold 3,403]

British Colombia but also fool around with urban waste, the blue thingy is a small centrifuge that I built to learn about various density's the heavier gold, silver and platinum is the first to be recovered then when the copper shows up in the bowel it's time to quit. 

 

The test tubes a bit if wet chemistry double checking my work for loss.

 

Plastic tub above test tubes contains the concentrates if you look close you'll see the fine gold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 12, 2019 by bcgold

[bc.gold 3,403]

My second centrifuge build ninety percent completed stored in BC waiting my return, below that is an assay from material taken from a wash plant no gold but 17 ppm platinum.

 

The platinum is pretty fine and I'm not sure the centrifuge is going to recover much if any. 

 

1 ppm is 1 gram per metric ton so 17 grams makes for a decent profit - $453.65 US

 

The six platinum-group metals are ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum.

 

Platinum is not doing to well at the moment but if I were so lucky to have any rhodium alloyed in the mix, I could probably buy all your guys a beer.

 

Daily market price, precious metals. https://www.kitco.com/

 

 

Precious Metal Prices
Platinum	USD/ozt	821.19
Palladium	USD/ozt	1,538.84
Iridium	USD/ozt	1,460.00
Rhodium	USD/ozt	2,990.00

 

 

 

 

Edited March 12, 2019 by bcgold

[bc.gold 3,403]

This gravel pit is full of glacial till, the material is hauled into town where it's washed free of silt the large rock outcrop begs for a few core samples to be drilled then assayed.

 

The platinum assay is from this wash plant.

 

 

 

Edited March 12, 2019 by bcgold

[bc.gold 3,403]

In 2008 rhodium peaked at $10,000.00 a troy ounce. https://www.thestreet.com/story/14342837/1/rhodium-prices-have-surged.html

 

Even if I come home penniless I'll have had a good time.

 

 

 

[Stormin 9,982]

My sister and B-in Law in Western Australia go gold prospecting every year for 2 - 3 months. I don't think they have the set up you have. Just dig and pan. They seem to do OK. Last visit over here they brought a few ounces to show us. Took it back with them though.  

[ebinmaine 69,239]

26 minutes ago, bcgold said:

Even if I come home penniless I'll have had a good time.

That's the part that counts the most

[bc.gold 3,403]

This picture is from a creek on Vancouver Island the purple is ionic gold in the water and it's attracted to the rock that have iron in them. It's possible to find the source by periodically testing water seeping into the creek along its banks as you follow the creek upstream.

 

If the water assay to show there were enough parts per million gold, it could be recovered by laying a layer of tin cans on the creek bottom or pumping the water through a barrel full of ion exchange beads.

 

Dow chemical and BASF both manufacture ion resin beads most of you would be familiar with those used on your water softener.

 

 

 

[bc.gold 3,403]

Cranberry and Ruby red glass get their color with a small addition of gold, 

 

The first automotive red glass taillights actually contained enough gold to be classified as ruby glass. Long ago from the different colored glass found on old farm sites, since most was bits and pieces mostly broken.

 

I used those bits further broken down to make my first kaleidoscope.

 

 

 

 

[bc.gold 3,403]

Eight years ago I began my study of precious metals and their uses, I'm sure many of you have old family photos that have faded with time.

 

Prints made using silver even after the print has been fixed will continue to react with UV light to the point  they're of little use. Had the photographer used platinum or palladium salts the print wold have had a two hundred year archival rating.

 

I either heard or read somewhere that the Library of Congress will only accept platinum prints.

 

Popular Photographic Print Processes: Platinum and Palladium Prints

---

Frederick Evans, photographer. Ancient Crypt Cellars in Provins, France, Platinum print, 1910. LC-DIG-ppmsca-13704

Dates in general use: ca. 1873-ca. 1920

Description: The platinum printing process was popular in the late 19th century. It used platinum and/or palladium salts instead of silver as the light sensitive material. These prints are characterized by their ability to reproduce a long scale of tonal values. It is a very permanent image, and was highly valued for this reason. Later the process was appreciated more for its aesthetic qualities, and became favored among art photographers. It is usually characterized by soft, gray tonalities, but it is possible to change the color of the print during development or by toning the finished print.

Further information and examples

• Prints & Photographs Online Catalog:
  • view online examples of Platinum prints
  • view online examples of Palladium prints
  • Thesaurus for Graphic Materials term: Platinum prints [view term - includes related terms]
  • Thesaurus for Graphic Materials term: Palladium prints [view term - includes related terms]

[bc.gold 3,403]

From a scanned 35 mm negative or a digital image with a high pixel count you can use a wide format printer to print an enlarged negative to use in a process called contact printing.

 

 

Edited March 12, 2019 by bcgold

[bc.gold 3,403]

Next time your de-carbonizing your engine save the carbon, snap a picture of your favorite horse then print out a negative to use to make your first carbon print.

 

Soot aka carbon and gelitin with potassium dichromate as your developer agent. I assume you read all the MSDS sheets that accompany your chemicals.

 

Carbon print.

 

 

Edited March 12, 2019 by bcgold

[bc.gold 3,403]

What I liked most about this forum is its members have never criticized me for wandering off topic leaving me to ramble on.

 

Thanks guys for having me but in all honesty doubt I'll return in the fall when you have ADD it's difficult to stay focused when there's still so much left in this great world of ours to distract me. 

Edited March 12, 2019 by bcgold

[WVHillbilly520H 10,374]

1 hour ago, bcgold said:

Next time your de-carbonizing your engine save the carbon, snap a picture of your favorite horse then print out a negative to use to make your first carbon print.

 

Soot aka carbon and gelitin with potassium dichromate as your developer agent. I assume you read all the MSDS sheets that accompany your chemicals.

 

Carbon print.

 

 

Certain cell phones have the built in capabilities...

[Mike'sHorseBarn 3,036]

So i gather that your looking for more than just gold when you head out. That's interesting, I've never seen a centrifuge like you've shown. I used to like to watch Gold Rush on Discovery Channel until it became a non stop bicker fest, and I found the mining part very interesting. Have a great and safe mining season!!

[WHX?? 49,582]

5 hours ago, bcgold said:

wandering off topic leaving me to ramble on.

Wander all you like your like a walking Wikipedia dude.. ...who knows maybe even stupid idiots like me can learn a thing or three..

5 hours ago, bcgold said:

liked most about this forum is its members have never criticized me

They do they'll have to deal with me!

Edited March 12, 2019 by WHX22

[bc.gold 3,403]

3 hours ago, WVHillbilly520H said:

Certain cell phones have the built in capabilities...

 

First glance it looks impressive but on closer examination your images are very grainy, I had the Sony A900 with a pixel count of 25 MP that Sony would accept lenses from the older Minolta 35mm. 

 

Working with a 25MP image you can crop a portion of the image and still have plenty of detail. I now see that Sony have come out with a 42MP camera, but at $3000.00 for a bare bones camera body its well priced out of my budget.

 

I gave the Sony along with a Cambo 4x5, Cambo 8x10 view camera and an Epson photo and negative scanner to my daughter who is working towards being a professional photographer.

 

 

 

Edited March 12, 2019 by bcgold

[Stormin 9,982]

 All that is a very interesting read, thankyou. Must admit a bit above my head, but informative anyway. Have a good trip and I hope we hear from you again sometime in the future.

Edited March 12, 2019 by Stormin

[WVHillbilly520H 10,374]

27 minutes ago, bcgold said:

 

First glance it looks impressive but on closer examination your images are very grainy, I had the Sony A900 with a pixel count of 25 MP that Sony would accept lenses from the older Minolta 35mm. 

 

Working with a 25MP image you can crop a portion of the image and still have plenty of detail. I now see that Sony have come out with a 42MP camera, but at $3000.00 for a bare bones camera body its well priced out of my budget.

 

I gave the Sony along with a Cambo 4x5, Cambo 8x10 view camera and an Epson photo and negative scanner to my daughter who is working towards being a professional photographer.

 

 

 

All from a cheap "smart" phone  about 10 years ago lucky to have been 7-10mp

[bc.gold 3,403]

3 hours ago, WVHillbilly520H said:

All from a cheap "smart" phone  about 10 years ago lucky to have been 7-10mp

All I have now for taking pictures is a Smartphone and a Samsung Galaxy pocket camera and have no plans to get back into any of the high end equipment.

 

[Pullstart 63,287]

Safe travels, @bcgold!  Wander back here safely 

[bc.gold 3,403]

For those that might want to try their hand at making a carbon print Bostick & Sullivan offer a free download describing the process. Carbon prints also have a very long archival rating and do not fade with time.

 

To make a digital image most modern ink jet  printers will print on a clear plastic substrate, this becomes your negative. While searching for a video came across this wax method which I think is brilliant. So this is the video I choose to show.

 

The Bostick & Sullivan Book of Modern Carbon Printing written by Richard Sullivan. 

This is a free e-book which you can download here.

The book goes over carbon printing methods in great detail and is good for anyone wanting to learn about carbon printing. 

It is a free download. Please do not add it to your cart. 

 

 

[PeacemakerJack 10,742]

Wow!  This has definitely been an informative thread.  I’ll have to come back to it several times and digest it post by post.  Good luck @bcgold in your quest but never hesitate to “stop” back in for a visit.  I understand the concept of focusing on the next best thing or another challenging adventure. However, this forum is made up of a core of great guys the likes of which I’ve not found elsewhere on the ‘net.  You tend add something to that group and I hope that we add something to your life.  

 

Please don’t be a complete stranger. As Tom Bodett was so famous for saying, “We’ll leave the light on for you!”