How dangerous is it actually to pan? Right now im trying to figure out the composition of various river gravels and since we have large depots of arsenopyrite im a bit paranoid even tho not worried. I fail to identify it in the rocks as of yet or i just dindt find any clear specimens. Cause of course in nature stuff never realy appears fully grown to perfection like in the books. They say it may have a garlicy smell to it too, never smelled it so far.
Do people drink the water from the river? I would not think normal running water would pose a danger. Acid mine drainage or stagnant water is a different thing. Do you see any life in the water?
@@hardrockuniversity7283 The water itself is üerfectly fine. You can drink it if you would have to. My concern is paning small ammounts of arsenopyrite that may be in the rock but too little to clearly identify it.
@@1000-r3g From a safety sake in handling the rocks- should no be a big deal. If you go to start roasting some of the rock- now that could be an issue.
@@hardrockuniversity7283 Excellent. Yes, i thought as much regarding the roasting. I just have to get better in identifying it, no way around that in the end anyways. Rock is useless if i cant clearly determine its composition. So mainly im occupying myself with geology theory now ... something i stupidly neglected more or less al my life ... cause in a country 3/4th covered with mountains ... what use is geology ... head --> table --> bang
Possibly. However, doing it yourself can be very dangerous (and probably illegal) with the arsenic. In quantity it can be sold to a refiner, but they send it overseas to avoid the regulations from what I have heard. 911 metallurgist seems to be pretty familiar with arsenopyrite though. If you have a serious question about it, he is probably the one to ask.
Did you roast the sulfides first? I only have seen fine powdery gold like that after roasting the sulfides., then panning . Right now I'm trying to get silver out of galena . I keep ending up with lead, know how to get the silver out?
We did NOT roast at all. That is what free gold was with the pyrites. WRT the silver in galena, I suspect a wet chemical separation either before or after smelting would do the trick. You might ask 911 metallurgy. He knows more than I about such things. Keith
DON'T ROAST ARSENIC! IT WILL EFFING KILL YOU, IF YOU CATCH EVEN A WHIFF OF IT. That being said: lead outta silver huh... Have you tried bone ash and a smelting furnace? That's how you test precious metals at home anyway, you add lead the lead soaks up the junk, oxidizes and into the coupell (probably spelled that wrong) it goes, and leaves the precious metals behind.
I guess that's why Arsenic is classified as a heavy metal .
Seems plausible. :-)
How dangerous is it actually to pan?
Right now im trying to figure out the composition of various river gravels and since we have large depots of arsenopyrite im a bit paranoid even tho not worried. I fail to identify it in the rocks as of yet or i just dindt find any clear specimens.
Cause of course in nature stuff never realy appears fully grown to perfection like in the books. They say it may have a garlicy smell to it too, never smelled it so far.
Do people drink the water from the river? I would not think normal running water would pose a danger. Acid mine drainage or stagnant water is a different thing. Do you see any life in the water?
@@hardrockuniversity7283 The water itself is üerfectly fine. You can drink it if you would have to.
My concern is paning small ammounts of arsenopyrite that may be in the rock but too little to clearly identify it.
@@1000-r3g From a safety sake in handling the rocks- should no be a big deal. If you go to start roasting some of the rock- now that could be an issue.
@@hardrockuniversity7283 Excellent.
Yes, i thought as much regarding the roasting.
I just have to get better in identifying it, no way around that in the end anyways.
Rock is useless if i cant clearly determine its composition. So mainly im occupying myself with geology theory now ... something i stupidly neglected more or less al my life ... cause in a country 3/4th covered with mountains ... what use is geology ... head --> table --> bang
@@1000-r3g Arseno pyrite is a bright silver color, but other arsenic minerals can be different.
So, did you test the pyrite itself?
Did not have a chance.
@@hardrockuniversity7283very cool non the less.
Is this why smelting may be a better options at that point?
Possibly. However, doing it yourself can be very dangerous (and probably illegal) with the arsenic. In quantity it can be sold to a refiner, but they send it overseas to avoid the regulations from what I have heard. 911 metallurgist seems to be pretty familiar with arsenopyrite though. If you have a serious question about it, he is probably the one to ask.
Hard Rock University thanks for answering. Glad to see you answer questions😀😀😀
I try. The next time I will be in contact may be weeks away. This location is about as remote as you can get in the lower 48.
Did you roast the sulfides first? I only have seen fine powdery gold like that after roasting the sulfides., then panning . Right now I'm trying to get silver out of galena . I keep ending up with lead, know how to get the silver out?
We did NOT roast at all. That is what free gold was with the pyrites.
WRT the silver in galena, I suspect a wet chemical separation either before or after smelting would do the trick. You might ask 911 metallurgy. He knows more than I about such things.
Keith
Thanks Keith
You are most welcome. Good luck!
Keith
DON'T ROAST ARSENIC! IT WILL EFFING KILL YOU, IF YOU CATCH EVEN A WHIFF OF IT.
That being said: lead outta silver huh... Have you tried bone ash and a smelting furnace? That's how you test precious metals at home anyway, you add lead the lead soaks up the junk, oxidizes and into the coupell (probably spelled that wrong) it goes, and leaves the precious metals behind.
@@amewarashi5770 If you cupel too hot you can get significant losses. !550 to 1700F should do it.