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Posted by: Boogie Jun 13 2010, 09:24 AM

Newbie alert...

Is some of that non magnetic black sand actually Silver that has tarnished from periodic exposure to air over the eons?

How come I never see Silver in my pan? It's deposited in much the same way as Gold isn't it?

Boogie

Posted by: Forestwalker Jun 13 2010, 10:37 AM

I have a few pieces of silver ore from mine tours etc. It all is just blackish tarnish stuff and no or very very little free silver from what it looks like, maybe only a few specs.

The gold ore I have from mines has visible gold.

Would be cool to find a silver nugget.

Posted by: Coalbunny Jun 14 2010, 06:49 AM

Silver ore and native silver are two different creatures.
The silver ore can be any of a myriad of compositions. native silver is, well, raw silver likely with an oxide coating.

Posted by: Boogie Jun 14 2010, 10:28 AM

Coalbunny,

Please forgive me for being dense. My wife carries a 2x4 around for times when I'm like this...

Are you then saying that some of the non-magnetic blackish material in concentrates may indeed contain some silver? Silver won't appear all silvery and shiny in the pan, will it?

Also a little off topic, but being in Boulder County, does anyone know if I am going to need to contact Hazmat to dispose of my cleaned concentrates (Because of the lead. Is there mercury too?) or can I just dump them in the garden? I sure would hate to make the cute little prairie dogs sick and end up in jail for it.

Boogie

Posted by: Coalbunny Jun 15 2010, 01:59 AM

Dude, don't waste your time contacting hazmat.
Throw away your pan instead.


Then have your wife nail you really really good with that 2x4.

If your concentrates are that toxic after being cleaned, then you're in serious trouble health-wise just for panning them.
And if you report them to HazMat, and any lead of mercury is found in them, they're gonna wanna know where you got them from and how you got them out, and then the state Dept. Natural Resources will get dragged in.

Posted by: Boogie Jun 15 2010, 07:27 AM

<KONK> Ouch!

My wife and I thank you Coalbunny. Apparently, I needed that.

Maybe if I told them that it came from the St Vrain or Boulder Creek, they would open it up and pay prospectors handsomely to dredge all the lead and other heavies out. The yuppies would freak out if they knew what they were wading around in.

Boogie

Posted by: Coalbunny Jun 15 2010, 07:48 AM

Pan for the heavies. ALL heavies. Keep the lead and Hg separate from the other concentrates. If confronted by the pseudo-authorities, show them your fine work. And then maybe they'll leave you alone.