Huego 1

True, that IS good general advice to those unfamilar with using acids. BUT in fact you can get away with it either with all common acids except sulphuric acid! Because this is such a common acid its better to make this a blanket rule ........ add acid to water with gentle stirring. Without stirring (ie with a very dense acid like sulphuric) it will go straight to the bottom and then when stirred you could be in for a shock. Huego

I concur with the comment above re the retort being relatively safe for removing & recovering mercury IF used properly. It is dangerous when not used properly. However, I can't agree that nitric acid ..... "burns off the mercury ..... you vapourise it ...into the atmosphere". Respectfully, that understanding is plain wrong. This is the 'science' (chemistry) behind what happens to those interested. Nitic acid will effectively dissolve mercury, leaving any gold behind. [Care needs to be taken to not use this acid with any chloride (eg salt or hydrochloric acid) or gold will be lost, ie some will dissolve.] With this acid, the mercury dssolves, ie goes into solution, as mercuric nitrate (water soluble, but very toxic). It does not vapourise. The brown clouds of toxic gas given off as nitric acid dissolves metals (like mercury, copper etc) is nitrogen dioxide, but it contains no mercury vapour. If one is using this acid care with skin, eye and vapour protection is required. It is best diluted 1 parts with 2 parts of clean water. This reduces the vigor of the reaction. Remember, the mercury (metal) is converted to a toxic acidic liquid above the gold. The mercury can be recovered for re-use with clean zinc swarf. Huego (Doc 2)

Hello indeed! Very easy on the eye Chris, Well done. Nice shape (kinda ropey), colour and even inclusions. Interesting. What does the bigger one (in your hand) weigh? 7 grams? Huego

Me too, 2.....4.....6......8..... Huego