Gold, 'the noble mineral'

[bob10]

Just been reading my new book, gold, fossicking in Qld, by Barry Neville. I quote some interesting info;

" The colour, hardness ,malleability & melting point of gold alloys vary considerably . Those containing platinum or palladium form the white golds, which are often used in jewellery settings because they are harder & more durable. Gold alloys are also used in dentistry , & for brazing & soldering. Other uses include gilding & gold leaf for decoration of internal & external surfaces of buildings [ roofing, mouldings, sculptures, picture frames or furniture] and for sign writing & book binding.

Gold is used as a pigment in glassmaking, [ ruby coloured glass] and in special glass for climate control of modern buildings. There it reflects external solar radiation to cool in summer, and internal heat inward during winter.

Because of its unique properties gold is used in drugs for certain treatments and in research programmes. it has many applications in in medical devices and since gold is resistant to bacterial colonisation, it is used in transplantation devices and implantation stents as well as electronic components of pacemakers & ventilators.

Who'da thunk, Bob

[goingbush]

Yes amazing stuff

Rivers of gold in our recycling bins - Environment - smh.com.au (http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/rivers-of-gold-in-our-recycling-bins/2007/04/15/1176575687671.html)

when we used to throw out obsolete switchboards in the 80's (before recycling)
a bloke a work used to cut the plugs off the PMBX switchboard tails, I realised years later the pins were made from gold,

I did a tour of the Carrum sewerage facility and they say there a fortune in gold in the sludge, not from wedding rings down the toilet but from gold eroded from fillings during brushing.

and then there is this
Japan's sewers paved with gold - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/4429197/Japans-sewers-paved-with-gold.html)

I just spent a couple of days detecting at Clermont QLD , and Nada, Zilch, nothing, same result at Bendigo Vic , and WA Goldfields.

[bob10]

Yes amazing stuff



I just spent a couple of days detecting at Clermont QLD , and Nada, Zilch, nothing, same result at Bendigo Vic , and WA Goldfields.

A friend of mine and his two brothers go to the Clermont area for two weeks every year, and have collected a nice little stash of the precious metal, so far no one has been able to find out where they go..... but I am educating myself and am going to try sometime soon, this book is a wealth of info., Bob

[JamesB71]

I love mucking about in rivers with my turbo pan, and have so far found literally tens of specs..... must be worth cents!

Ive got little jar with what must be getting on towards a dollar worth in there.

(Im sure it works out as an hourly rate of about $0.005 per hour, but its good fun)

[goingbush]

yep, I just use it as an excuse to get out there, have the expectation that I will find nothing at all. :angel:

One day I'll trip over Lasseter's Reef

[bob10]

One day I'll trip over Lasseter's Reef

I've sat in the cave Lasseter died in [ or at least stayed in, he may have died outside] , lonely place. Unfortunately, the rules are such fossickers can only be in it for the fun. Bob. From the book;

" Restrictions apply on the sale & use of fossicking material under a licence in trade and commerce, and penalties may be imposed for any non-compliance of regulations. The repeated removal of fossicking material for sale through shops or businesses , or as part of making a living , is considered commercial, and requires tenure under the mineral resources Act 1989. "

Still, if it gets us out there......... Bob

[BMKal]

I've sat in the cave Lasseter died in [ or at least stayed in, he may have died outside] , lonely place. Unfortunately, the rules are such fossickers can only be in it for the fun. Bob. From the book;

" Restrictions apply on the sale & use of fossicking material under a licence in trade and commerce, and penalties may be imposed for any non-compliance of regulations. The repeated removal of fossicking material for sale through shops or businesses , or as part of making a living , is considered commercial, and requires tenure under the mineral resources Act 1989. "

Still, if it gets us out there......... Bob

It's not that restrictive in WA, particularly if you're on Crown Land. Main restriction is that you can't disturb the surface over large areas, such as strip mining.

You can fossick on private land, but you need permission. A lot of mining companies will let you on their land, on the proviso that you tell them what you have found and show them where you found it. They will then explore that area more thoroughly after you have moved on. It's how quite a few significant orebodies have been discovered.

Details of what you can & can't do are in the attached - a Miner's Right will cost you $25.

Cheers .......... BM

[ramblingboy42]

I saw something very recently showing cigarette papers made from very thin gold leaf. You actually smoke the gold...........you might , but I wont...