Extracting Gold with Cyanide: How gold is recovered from ores using cyanide to capture it

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  • čas přidán 11. 09. 2024
  • The vast majority of the gold produced in modern mines is processed using cyanide. Nearly all gold ore has at least some very small gold particles that at too small to recover by gravity based methods. Some low grade ores have most or nearly all gold particles so small that they cannot be recovered by shaker tables, sluice and other gravity based methods. Nevada is famous for the Carlin type ores with microscopic gold particles. Recovering this gold requires a cheap, stable chemical that can easily dissolve gold - but that is a tall order. In the 1890s, a Scottish chemist by the name of John McArthur found a practical way to dissolve gold with cyanide and then recover the metal back from the solution with zinc. The method was hugely popular and widely adopted within a few years all around the world. Cyanide also works for extracting silver. There are a few alternatives to cyanide processing and I will talk about these also.
    This is not a "How to" type of video. Cyanide is very poisonous, and I can’t possibly cover all the potential risks and problems one might encounter with using cyanide.
    For those who want to learn more about Prospecting and finding gold check out my book, Fists full of Gold. It’s an encyclopedia of everything on the topic of prospecting. It’s available on from High Plans Prospectors. (Affiliate) You can find it at:
    highplainspros...
    For even more information on prospecting, minerals, gems and other related information you can also check out my website at:
    nevada-outback-...
    The Prospecting and Mining Journal magazine can be found at:
    www.icmj.com

Komentáře • 237

  • @beefybuttercup2978
    @beefybuttercup2978 Před rokem +11

    His energy says it all, this man knows & lives his work!!

  • @glentomkins8044
    @glentomkins8044 Před rokem +9

    Thanks Chris, I often wondered why cyanide processes are not often used by small-scale miners. Great explanation! Keep the videos coming.

  • @stevensherer1440
    @stevensherer1440 Před rokem +12

    Another great video containing excellent information that is explained in laymans language that most miners can understand. Even with my professional background as a miner and geologist I find your videos very informative. I often have used them as a resource that I refer others to when I am asked to explain issues that you have taken the time to explain way better than I can. Keep up the good work.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      Thanks for your kind words, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving.

    • @mohamadluckman
      @mohamadluckman Před rokem

      All rich things isotop, non, recovery brain alpha osmosis lake transmutation ❤❤❤

    • @mikesorenson5505
      @mikesorenson5505 Před 11 měsíci

      Cris I'm thankful for you I am not giving up I love this life and will till the day I die

  • @garrettlindley3101
    @garrettlindley3101 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Fantastic video! I also live in northern Nevada and work at an underground gold mine. Ive always been an equipment operator/face miner for my mining career and this video greatly explains the other side of my profession. Thank you!

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před 5 měsíci

      Very cool! Glad you enjoyed the video.

  • @mikecomstock4406
    @mikecomstock4406 Před rokem +1

    Can't tell you how much I appreciate you r vids Chris. Thanks. MSC

  • @patrickc.allenlive4373
    @patrickc.allenlive4373 Před rokem +2

    Interesting show concerning Cyanide metal extraction and also heap leeching of the sulfide ores.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +2

      This was not a video on "How to Use cyanide" for gold recovery. Do some research on the internet to find more info.

  • @shanelocke237
    @shanelocke237 Před rokem +9

    He's more of a Professor prospector than a professional prospector don't ya reckon.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +6

      Trust me, I make plenty of money on prospecting related activities. Two different mining companies pay me to lease my claims.

    • @michaelpaul2581
      @michaelpaul2581 Před rokem +3

      Indeed, Chris ought to go by “professional professor of prospecting”.

    • @nollynnkomo1819
      @nollynnkomo1819 Před rokem +1

      Hello prof I m in Zimbabwe and I love the knowledge you have .

    • @nollynnkomo1819
      @nollynnkomo1819 Před rokem +1

      Been trying to understand this now I get it but I steel need knowledge

    • @shanelocke237
      @shanelocke237 Před rokem

      @@michaelpaul2581 YES THAT SOUNDS GREAT,"THE PROFESSIONAL PROFESSOR OF PROSPECTING".HAVE YOU GOT YOURSELF HIS BOOK, ITS THE PROSPECTORS BIBLE

  • @seymourpro6097
    @seymourpro6097 Před rokem +2

    Where I used to work we had cyanide by the pallet and a dedicated fork lift for it. Now I can't find cyanide retail anywhere.. even shops selling books on CN leaching for miners.
    Remember that HCN has a bitter almond smell BUT only about 40% of people can smell it the rest cannot smell it, so you probably wouldn't know if there was cyanide in the air.
    Fortunately cyanide naturally oxidises on exposure to oxygen so small cyanide wastes self dispose to carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +1

      In the old days, I bought hundreds of pounds of sodium cyanide with only a check and a driver's license. You can't buy it now because of lawsuits. You can however, buy as much sodium thiosulfate as you wish - its available on Amazon.

    • @seymourpro6097
      @seymourpro6097 Před rokem +1

      Thiosulphate is photographic fixer! Once used for film and paper. It should make short work of silver chloride ores and be re-usable if the silver is taken out by electrolysis

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +1

      Its inexpensive, and its also the additive to pools if you put in too much Chlorine.

    • @beefybuttercup2978
      @beefybuttercup2978 Před rokem

      I come to comments for this kind of extra, continued info, thanks

    • @seymourpro6097
      @seymourpro6097 Před rokem

      Thiosulphate is the anti chlorine additive in "after swimming" hair shampoo.

  • @seymourrivers6169
    @seymourrivers6169 Před rokem +1

    I enjoyed this fascinating episode. First I’ve heard about heap leaching. Thank you

  • @sparkysrun4274
    @sparkysrun4274 Před rokem +2

    Cool, really interesting!! My grandparents went back to work in gold mines in the Dakotas back in the depression era, I want to say (?) I wonder about all these processes. I pan gold here in Oregon, as a hobby. Thankyou for this educational video.

  • @RichardSmith-ms6hh
    @RichardSmith-ms6hh Před 4 měsíci

    Thanks. Great fun delivery of an overview of ore leaching. Appreciated.

  • @Smithsgold
    @Smithsgold Před rokem +4

    great information !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • @user-lk4wt1nx5m
    @user-lk4wt1nx5m Před rokem +3

    Great information, thank you. I have a good find in a place that's hard to find gold. However it's mixed with copper. I have been trying to come up with a "green" method to extract but no luck. Silver I was able to be more green with. And as far as waste Solutions I generally force an evaporation to avoid poisons that are left over.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +2

      Copper in the ore is a problem for cyanide and for thiosulfate too. The copper reacts with the leaching chemicals.

  • @otilium7503
    @otilium7503 Před rokem +2

    Thank you for this awesome information, that's very educational!

  • @davevan1928
    @davevan1928 Před rokem +2

    Great info here.
    No way no how am I gona chemical leach but it's always good to know how the big boys are doing it

  • @danbrent4618
    @danbrent4618 Před rokem +3

    Great course on cyanide, Chris does cyanide break down in nature or does it stick around. I have a hard time getting up in the morning no way I would ever use Cyanide or any other chemical, Dan Brent

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +2

      It does decompose, though the speed of decomposition depends on the conditions.

  • @maisikonharley825
    @maisikonharley825 Před rokem +1

    Thank you so much, sir, for your tons of useful information.👍👍👍👍👍

  • @oddball746
    @oddball746 Před rokem +2

    Chris, two questions,
    Is any of the cyanide recycled and reused ?
    When dykes and fishers/veins are found cutting through the ore deposits, Will there be Gold in those too ?

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +2

      Its recycled in the process, but some is lost to oxidation, so more is constantly added.

  • @alphaphichufafionse3005
    @alphaphichufafionse3005 Před rokem +1

    Very well explained............ Can you make a video about electrolysis gold recovery from ore or from a solution thanks.........

  • @mohammedaliomer5653
    @mohammedaliomer5653 Před rokem +1

    I started gold mining.. Via vat leaching.. Thank you for the information.. And I'll keep my work update..im so optimistic about it

  • @karlbesser1696
    @karlbesser1696 Před rokem +2

    I've heard of gold miners in the Brazilian jungle using mercury to extract the gold. Is that an alternative for the little man?
    Many greetings.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +2

      Capturing gold with mercury is still a gravity based system like a sluice or shaker table. The gold must move down by gravity through the material to get caught in the mercury. It does not dissolve the gold like cyanide or thiosulfate. Mercury also has its own toxicity issues.

    • @karlbesser1696
      @karlbesser1696 Před rokem

      @@ChrisRalph Thank you for the information.

  • @allansgoldmining
    @allansgoldmining Před rokem

    Great video Ralph ! Very informative on a subject that is not very tangible to most hobby prospectors. I used cyanide many years ago on a silver vat leaching project. Unfortunately, at $5 silver it wasn't profitable. The ore was in dolomite and the silver was completely oxidized into black dendrites. Leached like candy.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +1

      I got a bunch of ore I need to crush and test. I'm going to try thiosulfate to do the job.

    • @allansgoldmining
      @allansgoldmining Před rokem

      I used it once before and did ok. Expensive at the time.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      You can buy it cheap right on Amazon.

  • @theis37trials41
    @theis37trials41 Před 6 dny

    Hi Chris, Enjoying your videos very much!. My father was a Jeweler and I remember as a kid he use to collect the dust and debris from his buffing wheel and use cyanide to extract gold from it. I found boxes and boxes of his buffing wheel waste he saved and never got to before he died. I wanted to try to extract the metals that are in it. It was 30 years ago I use to watch him do it, so I am a little blurry on exactly how he did it. Will the cyanide extract all the precious metals in the same way? Also do you know the best place to obtain the items I would need to do this task? Thanks so much!

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před 6 dny

      Shortly I am coming out with a less toxic way to leach precious metals. You might want to wait for that video. Cyanide is difficult to purchase.

  • @smallscaleminingsupplies9670

    Most Gold in our part of the world is caught using cynade, Tanzania what happens is the free gold is caught using mercury and some sluice, the remaining tailings are kept either in VAT tanks cynade is added, tanks are closed for few days untill the Gold is leached, than the solution is passes throught carbon were the Gold is caught, its a common practice here.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      It must be properly handled or it can be dangerous.

  • @npsfam
    @npsfam Před rokem

    great, this vid, really outlines the basics of things and what I need to know, going forward with my projects...

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      Not enough info to do it in that video.

  • @mostafaelsheikh8118
    @mostafaelsheikh8118 Před rokem +1

    Thank you for this valuable video

  • @steventamla2443
    @steventamla2443 Před rokem +1

    thanks for the information, vats are expensive to build or buy, can you help to understand how I can heap leach may be a plan. video or any helpful information towards a successful heap leaching. I Am based in east Africa small miners use the leaching tanks I want to try heap leaching.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +1

      This was not a video on "How to Use cyanide" for gold recovery. Do some research on the internet to find more info.

  • @osvaldocalle1047
    @osvaldocalle1047 Před 9 měsíci

    I just learned about cyanide. Thank you for your video.

  • @mikeconnery4652
    @mikeconnery4652 Před rokem

    Great information especially on the geography side and always like to know about processes.

  • @nellarl
    @nellarl Před 6 měsíci

    Your video is much appreciated. I am an investor in a gold mining company - Fortitude Gold near Hawthorne, NV. I am trying to figure out how profitable it is to truck ore to a central processing facility. So when they are telling me that they take the gold to the carbon phase and then truck it to a main processing facility I now have an idea what they are doing.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před 6 měsíci

      The activated carbon is a very concentrated phase. if you have several satellite properties, it can make sense.

  • @mutush66
    @mutush66 Před rokem +1

    Thank you so much sir for such a wonderful episode. You are an excellent teacher. If I may ask is there any chemical that can be used to crash big rocks instead of crashing them using other mechanical methods.

  • @kaboom4679
    @kaboom4679 Před rokem +1

    There seems to be some use of glycine as an alternative to cyanide , especially in places with unfavorable legal environments .
    Can you share any insights on this process ?
    It likely is an order or two in magnitude more expensive than common cyanide salts I would guess .

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      It is really new - much of the research is only a few years old and has only been done at lab bench scale testing. The other thing is that to work properly it needs to be done hot - at about 140 degrees F. It does not work well at room temperatures, and this really limits the applicability - more than the cost.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      I'm going to look into this further and read a bunch of the research papers that have been published. Thanks for pointing it out.

  • @user-tu6un1il3l
    @user-tu6un1il3l Před 9 měsíci

    I would like to invite you to the state of Maine to my 159acre mountain of witch is a ancient hydro vent here at the end of the Appalachian mountains before they drop into the Atlantic! As I said this is newly found and I have not told many but the few I have talked with are overwhelmed with excitement! The reason I invite you is because of your experience and I have followed you for years.. l promise you you will not regret taking me up on this offer!! This find is right across the valley just a few miles from where they just found the high grade lithium in Nery Maine!!!

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před 9 měsíci

      I live clear across the country In Nevada. Thanks for the offer but I will decline. Best of luck to you.

  • @ovaca16
    @ovaca16 Před rokem

    Awesome video! Living in Nevada and working in gold mines for nearly 10 years now, this facinates me. Could i ask which gold mines youve work for?

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +1

      I worked out at Candelaria and at Virginia City - none of which are open now.

  • @ricklabreche7893
    @ricklabreche7893 Před rokem

    I used to make black cyanide at cyanimid plant in Niagara falls Canada. I made black flake 48 to 52 percent grade. Before I worked there they also had a white cyanide furnace but it was finished running when I started. We would fill tank trucks to take to northern Ontario for gold mines. We also put in barrels we made at the plant. Unfortunately plant closed 92 I then became a maintenance foreman at a Dana plant building for truck frame 95 to 2008.then close that plant too.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      Manufacturing cyanide is an interesting process.

  • @triplecwong
    @triplecwong Před 7 měsíci

    Great presentation! For a layperson like me, I had no idea that commercial mining operations were based upon collecting all these microscopic particles of gold together. One question I had was that you referred to it being fairly straightforward to getting a reliable assay of the ore (I assume to get a benchmark for whether a specific area is worth processing). What is the best tried-and-true assay method you know of?

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před 7 měsíci +1

      The best tried and true assay method is the fire assay.

  • @richardrobertson1331
    @richardrobertson1331 Před rokem +1

    Chris, why does gold dissolve in mercury or cyanide or even in a combination acid solutions? Cyanide is such a weird molecule, so what makes it dissolve a noble metal when it is dissolved in water? Please figure out another way to dissolve significant amounts gold quickly with "safe" chemicals, then tell only me.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +1

      Hundreds of top flight scientists have tried to come up with something safer than cyanide but equally effective and not wildly more expensive. So far, they have failed.

    • @richardrobertson1331
      @richardrobertson1331 Před rokem

      @@ChrisRalph You are every bit as smart as those top flight scientists, and in my opinion, even more so. You can do it.

    • @christopherleubner6633
      @christopherleubner6633 Před 5 měsíci

      Cyanide formes an anion with gold that is soluble. Gold forms a very thin and unstable oxide that reacts with cyanide forming a gold hydrogen fulminate that is reduced by the water to form water and an AuCN-1 ion The reason it does this is that the gold is more covalent than the hydrogen or oxygen in the water. Gold can be freed electrolytically regenerating the cyanide as HCN

  • @M.A.A-jf4rk
    @M.A.A-jf4rk Před 4 měsíci

    Thanks for your great explanation of heap leaching process and got a lot of information from your video.
    Only I have one question that's
    What happens the west that they have taken Gold? And how do they remove and prepare new heap leaching process?
    What are the characterization of wastes generated in gold beneficiation?
    Can you explain it or make a video about it? I don't know if did it?
    Sorry for my ridiculous questions!!! I'm trying figure out. And I'm mining engineering student 😊

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před 4 měsíci

      Pretty sure I covered all that in this video. Usually heap leach piles are left in place, covered with topsoil and reclaimed.

  • @Raymond-cy6dq
    @Raymond-cy6dq Před rokem

    In Oregon I have recoverd placer gold in Josephine Creek with mercury coating as an amalgam, At first I thought the little bits were platinum.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      Yep, the old timers left mercury in the creeks in some places.

  • @karimrazak3798
    @karimrazak3798 Před rokem +2

    How is sodium thiosulfate used to extract gold?

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +2

      Under the right conditions, it can dissolve gold like cyanide - but you have to have the right conditions. There is a lot of information on the internet, if you want to know more, do some research. One of these days I will do a video on using sodium thiosulfate to capture gold and silver, but it won't be real soon.

    • @karimrazak3798
      @karimrazak3798 Před rokem

      @@ChrisRalph I have a method and will try it. 30 kg of crushed soil from mineralized rocks and put it in a barrel with a little lime and pour 20 liters of cyanide solution on it to measure the acid percentage 12MPH and roll it for a period of not less than 7 hours. Is this method successful?

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +4

      This was not a "how to" video, as I said a couple times. I'm not giving instructions. You are on your own to find out safety and proper use information for using cyanide to capture gold.

  • @marmarquez5784
    @marmarquez5784 Před měsícem

    very informative. i really appreciate your video presentation. i want to learn more

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před měsícem +1

      Check out my older videos - lots of information to learn.

    • @marmarquez5784
      @marmarquez5784 Před měsícem

      @@ChrisRalph thank you

  • @jabrowski_
    @jabrowski_ Před rokem

    Thanks for the perspective Chris. Liked and subbed

  • @petevenuti7355
    @petevenuti7355 Před 8 měsíci

    I read a paper a while back about using electrochemistry to convert isocyanate back to cyanide but I can't find it, do you have any idea what I'm talking about?
    Also what do you think about urea extraction?

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před 8 měsíci +1

      I'm not sure about the electrochemistry conversion, but the best non-cyanide leach is thiosulfate, and there are plenty of research papers on it.

  • @narendramakwana8429
    @narendramakwana8429 Před rokem +1

    Great information thank you sir

  • @naughtiusmaximus830
    @naughtiusmaximus830 Před rokem

    Almonds, apple seeds and peach pits contain cyanide. It has a specific taste some people like in tiny amounts. I would not suggest trying it pure tho.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      Incredibly tiny amounts can be found naturally, but fairly small (not tiny) amounts can kill.

  • @ThandiweMtshena
    @ThandiweMtshena Před 7 dny

    Hello. Thanks for your video. Where can I get details of getting gold from the loaded carbon

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před 6 dny

      Do a search on Google - there is much information out there.

  • @samtasuwarnasusila3884

    this exactly what i need, i have the procedure but still need the basic to run it

  • @oladeleolaniyan184
    @oladeleolaniyan184 Před 4 měsíci

    Thank you for your time. Good stuff.

  • @rbolo29
    @rbolo29 Před rokem

    These video's start giving me gold fever.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      That was the intent in making them!

  • @TIPPYtoeup
    @TIPPYtoeup Před rokem

    Mr. Ralph,
    If one doesn’t have the access to, or would particularly not want to use cyanide. What would be the preferred method for a very thin layer of gold on the surface. Simplest way to describe it would be a quick brush stroke painted onto it.
    I’ve found this on my own reconnaissance. And through some home test found it to be AU. But that aside. Do have suggestions.
    I love that you take the time to do these for us. Thank you!

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      I would suggest sodium thiosulfate. It is available through Amazon, is not very toxic (its actually the antidote for cyanide poisoning), and I intend to do a video or two on this in 2023. It is more complex to use than cyanide, you need to control the chemistry more closely. There is research on it on the internet. Do some research using google.

    • @TIPPYtoeup
      @TIPPYtoeup Před rokem

      @@ChrisRalph: Thank you for taking the time. My Best

  • @eduardbuletsa9485
    @eduardbuletsa9485 Před 9 měsíci

    Hi Chris, do you know something about bacterias which can take out the gold at low grade ore and concentrate it?
    Great video, thank you 👍

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před 9 měsíci +1

      There is research being done - use google to search for research papers.

  • @2hzgh216
    @2hzgh216 Před rokem

    I mistakenly dissolved gold with HCl and sulfuric acid how can I get my gold back?

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      Real gold will not dissolve in HCl mixed with sulfuric acid. Put some copper metal in the acid and if there is real gold, it will precipitate out on the copper.

  • @justme-gj1wm
    @justme-gj1wm Před rokem

    Could you do a video on how to take a proper sample for assay to, proper mailing and where to send it , how long it takes and maybe add in on doing a specific gravity test with gold in? quartz

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      I have a video on processing samples for free gold, but not much on how to take a sample. It depends on what you are trying to evaluate.

  • @erryd.m307
    @erryd.m307 Před 6 měsíci

    Just found this video. This is great. 👍

  • @7thNoteOfficial
    @7thNoteOfficial Před 4 měsíci

    Is cyanide only toxic short term or also long term effects im a welder working in tanks

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před 4 měsíci

      I'm not sure of your situation, so there is no way I can say if it would be safe or not. Being exposed to very tiny amounts of cyanide over a long period of time is not known to be hazardous but by this I mean very tiny amounts. It does not take very much cyanide or cyanogen gas (that forms from cyanide) to be toxic.

    • @7thNoteOfficial
      @7thNoteOfficial Před 4 měsíci

      @@ChrisRalph ok thanks for the feedback.

  • @foxmulder7616
    @foxmulder7616 Před rokem

    Just read an article on gold mining forum from 2017, did your silver ore refining/smelting project ever turn out?

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +1

      I still really have not completed it.

    • @foxmulder7616
      @foxmulder7616 Před rokem

      @@ChrisRalphdarn lol question.. what could one do with small amounts of ore, besides sell them on eBay, etc. Since I assume the mint doesn't accept ore anymore.. Are there and places that will buy ore, or places that will process it for you etc? Or are the only options crushing and panning it yourself/selling specimens etc?

  • @hashemameli3666
    @hashemameli3666 Před rokem

    Thank you for your amazing clips. Have you seen gold chloride inside the gold-bearing stone? I have come to the conclusion by testing the stones that there is gold chloride inside some stones, which turns into free gold when heated.🙏🏻💛

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      I am skeptical of this.

    • @hashemameli3666
      @hashemameli3666 Před rokem

      @@ChrisRalph thanks 🙏🏻
      Is it possible that acidic solutions similar to aqua regia in the earth replace the gold from the depth of the earth to the surface in the form of gold chloride in the rock?

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      No.

  • @stevesmith8354
    @stevesmith8354 Před rokem

    Siri doesn’t type quite right thanks for all your hard work buddy

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      What? Siri does not understand what you mean, and neither do I.

    • @stevesmith8354
      @stevesmith8354 Před rokem

      I’ll have my first gold bar next week from dirt yes from Black GUI mud

    • @stevesmith8354
      @stevesmith8354 Před rokem

      If 5 gallon bucket before Bernie weighed about 90 pounds well maybe 75 I didn’t wet but it wasSuper heavy could barely carry it up the hill basically had to drag himWell lift outside it down lift it set it down all the way up the hill couldn’t walk with it

  • @jimconnor3069
    @jimconnor3069 Před rokem

    The small particles of gold you said Is that what they call water gold?

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      No, That is not something I said.

    • @jimconnor3069
      @jimconnor3069 Před rokem

      Okay...i think i misunderstood...need to rewatch,

  • @greedygringoprospecting6941

    is that what the piles of. beige dirt are in randsburg ,johanessburg ,red mountain. from crushing and chemical process the gold from ore i see them all over. ??? have a good day.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      You know "piles of beige dirt" is kind of a vague description. I'm guessing you mean the hard rock mill tailings. In the Randsburg area, most were treated with cyanide at the time they were mined.

    • @greedygringoprospecting6941
      @greedygringoprospecting6941 Před rokem

      @@ChrisRalph ya we figured it was chemical leaching crushed ore. all of us stay away from the beige dirt.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      You are not going to find anything in it, but any cyanide that was in it has long ago decomposed. It doesn't break down in a day or two, but after more than a century, that cyanide has been gone for many decades.

  • @imagnaldolima
    @imagnaldolima Před rokem

    Great video, Chris! I am running a small VAT leaching operation in Southern Africa.
    Need some advice, as we're getting a huge amount of copper coming out of the activated carbon when doing the electrowinning process, meaning there's a lot of copper being leached with the cyanidation process.
    Also, as for the oxygen within the equation, instead of bubbling air through the mix, we use H2O2 to supply oxygen to the mix. What are your thoughts?

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +1

      As I said repeatedly in the video, this is not a video to explain how to do cyanide. So I will offer no instructions. Significant copper in the ore is a problem.

    • @vimbiv3133
      @vimbiv3133 Před rokem +1

      Good Day Agnaldo...Im based in Johannesburg I also have a vat leach and working on a CIL /CIP plant. Can we chat on email ?

    • @imagnaldolima
      @imagnaldolima Před rokem

      @@vimbiv3133 sure. How can I reach you?

    • @smallscaleminingsupplies9670
      @smallscaleminingsupplies9670 Před rokem

      Its hard to treat the copper, dont you have a lab down there to do some tests, but the best way to remove the copper is by froth flotation you will need equipments to do that, the concentrate of copper will be separated from gold concentrate before leaching the solution by cynade

  • @rickmessina5396
    @rickmessina5396 Před rokem

    Hey Chris, I think the Ray mine in Arizona has heap leaching mountains that are being treated… how does copper react.??? Thanks…..

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +2

      Copper has its own heap leaching process but no cyanide is used. Dilute sulfuric acid is used instead.

    • @rickmessina5396
      @rickmessina5396 Před rokem

      @@ChrisRalph ah, I think that is the process they are using. Thanks……

  • @anthonyrstrawbridge
    @anthonyrstrawbridge Před rokem

    Hervorragende Lösungen. Quecksilber spekulieren.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      I dont recommend the use of mercury.

  • @altonlynch5464
    @altonlynch5464 Před rokem

    I wish I could take a class from you, do you teach some where?

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      No, I don't offer any special training.

  • @jamie-leevine1815
    @jamie-leevine1815 Před rokem

    So if aquaregia holds iron or other minerals in it you can’t just get the gold to dissipate and drop back out without cross contamination?

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      AR takes out other elements as well as iron, it gets consumed by the other things before it dissolves the gold. Then even if you do get any gold in solution, the meta bisulfite reacts with those other things and the gold does not drop out. Ive seen many try it and never heard of any that were successful.

    • @christopherleubner6633
      @christopherleubner6633 Před 5 měsíci

      Aqua Regia is used late in the process. You get the coper iron and other BS out first with electrolysis using sulfuric acid. After that you are left with a paste of gold lead and silver. Next react with nitric acid to remove the silver. Decant and save. The remainder add HCL plus some nitric acid to get your gold out. The lead will stay as a precipitate and your gold comes into solution as a yellow solution of HAuCl4.❤

  • @fredvalencia2205
    @fredvalencia2205 Před 9 měsíci

    Is the trade off worth it the waste product is hazardous to the environment

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před 9 měsíci

      The waste product is not released to the environment unless there is a major accident, and it quickly decomposes into non-toxic materials. The very computer or cell phone or TV you are using to see this requires gold to work. So are you willing to give up all your electronics and go back to living like its 1850?

    • @fredvalencia2205
      @fredvalencia2205 Před 9 měsíci

      @ChrisRalph I smell a strawman arguement.thats like someone saying they don't believe in all the wonderful things we enjoy because science just because they don't believe we landed on the moon.

    • @fredvalencia2205
      @fredvalencia2205 Před 9 měsíci

      @ChrisRalph your wrong in your statement about the waste from commercial mining it is dumped into rivers ,it buried and contaminates drinking water 180 billion tons is dumped yearly so just because my cell phone or desktop has gold components does mean it ok
      to polute the environment. Cyanide acids ,arsinc, mercury and other chemicals should not just be dumped along with contaminated tailings.

  • @Eayala17
    @Eayala17 Před rokem

    Is there anyway i can email you? I have a few questions

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      First, as I say in this video it is not a "How to do it" type video. A strong knowledge of chemistry both for the ore and use of cyanide is required. I appreciate your interest, but I do not offer any services for personal training, consulting or advisement. I get many such requests and simply do not have time to help all who ask. I have many business and family commitments and simply don't have the time available. I do wish you the best of luck, but I am sorry that I cannot offer any help on that level.

    • @Eayala17
      @Eayala17 Před rokem

      @@ChrisRalph I wanted to send you some ore and wanted your thoughts on it

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      As I noted above - I get many such requests every day and simply do not have time to help all who ask. So I do not offer any services for personal training, consulting or advisement.

  • @altonlynch5464
    @altonlynch5464 Před rokem

    Are you going to have a video on the use of mercury too?

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +1

      No, because I think you should avoid mercury and there are good alternatives.

    • @altonlynch5464
      @altonlynch5464 Před rokem

      @@ChrisRalph I watch a video the other day about Kenya gold mining. (Parker) It maybe good to explain why they uses Mercury and why it is so dangerous. I mean, I know but the younger generation may not.

    • @altonlynch5464
      @altonlynch5464 Před rokem

      @@ChrisRalph Cyanide is just as bad as mercury. We tried using a salt water leaching process.

  • @raf0074
    @raf0074 Před rokem

    What is process of participation thiosulfate leaching?

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      We have language problem. I do not understand your question. Someone who speaks English should help you.

  • @altonlynch5464
    @altonlynch5464 Před rokem

    Our dredge would do 60 tons and hour, we couldn't even get 60 tons in there in and hour and we built the dredge ourselves. We also made a rock crusher.

  • @chadnoel3280
    @chadnoel3280 Před rokem

    Took me three months this year to understand rocks and how gold and other metals are in rock and what things truly look like. I’m trying my best to study on everything that people produce for information and I’m at the point of have river print and zebra boulders and some other special rocks carrying metal them I been doing it all by hand and half ton truck I only have a bout 15 ton but it’s been one of the hardest things I been thru in my life now I have selected type of rock I know all that I carry ; as of today I am sitting on a great amount of gold 😢 need a idea how to extract.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +1

      I wish you the best of luck in your efforts, but I cannot help you.

    • @chadnoel3280
      @chadnoel3280 Před rokem

      Yah im hoping to be the one to figure out a way to pull this off without using crazy expensive chemicals to extract. I made a maze table that sits on 1/12 pitch ( carpenter by trade in real life ) and I put my wife’s old muscle vibrator for sore backs. And the hole’s transition back and forth from a 1/16 of a inch to 3/32 and it back and forth. It works but I can run that amount of rock through it in my lifetime never mind my sons hahaha thanks for your input and information. If I come up with a way to do it. I’d like to show the world. It’s on me. I’m one of the most creative characters in my part of the world. Anyways. Tiger colour stripe zebra print patterns it was suppose to say. But I tell you one thing. Pick rocks especially ones heavy as heck. You can lose 40 lbs in 3 months. Take care

  • @cutpaperpaste
    @cutpaperpaste Před 11 měsíci

    Right on

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před 11 měsíci

      glad you found it interesting.

  • @ahmedabdelrahman829
    @ahmedabdelrahman829 Před rokem

    I watch every video twice 😍

  • @mohammedaliomer5653
    @mohammedaliomer5653 Před rokem

    During the process I hope u will help me incase needed more information

  • @kateonianlaw1127
    @kateonianlaw1127 Před rokem

    What I have always wanted to do with my ore is extract everything and use all of the minerals in it, not just the precious metals, the entirety of the rock. Just one of many experiments I have in mind.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +1

      OK. What if it cost more to extract it than it is worth? Like it cost you $100 to extract $2.50 worth of iron in your ore?

    • @kateonianlaw1127
      @kateonianlaw1127 Před rokem

      @@ChrisRalph The knowledge is more important than the actual cost at this stage. Learning of how to do it, and knowing that I can do it is far more interesting than just avoiding doing it because it seems cost prohibitive. Pollution is a problem everyone will have to face in the future our own made or by someone else.

    • @beefybuttercup2978
      @beefybuttercup2978 Před rokem

      @@kateonianlaw1127
      Having the resource$ and being curious/committed to learn and share is what will benefit humanity most as we continue producing
      Always Remember, Teach & Share
      "Do Something Useful"

  • @stevesmith8354
    @stevesmith8354 Před rokem

    I burn it and it forms I can do a rock a crush it and burn it again and it seems like material the dirt goes away or whatever it gets smaller and smaller pile and the pieces get harder and harder

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      What? Siri does not understand what you mean, and neither do I.

  • @jabrowski_
    @jabrowski_ Před rokem

    "Lay plastic underneath" lol

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      Plastic comes in thick sheets my friend.

  • @aniketdeshmukh5330
    @aniketdeshmukh5330 Před rokem

    Is this same as aqua Regia ?

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      No, it is totally different.

    • @aniketdeshmukh5330
      @aniketdeshmukh5330 Před rokem

      But in both it dissolves gold and precipitation is done with zinc

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      Both sugar and salt are white and dissolve in water. Are sugar and salt the same? Aqua regia is an acid. Cyanide must be used as a base - the opposite of an acid. If you add an acid to cyanide it gives off a gas that will quickly kill you. They are not at all the same.

  • @stevesmith8354
    @stevesmith8354 Před rokem

    The super fire and gold is not metallic looking correct I’ve been burning dirt that I think I see is microscopic gold in and then I it kind of forms like a rock again and then I crash out and then burn it again and every time I do it it seems like it turns into more and more gold and I lose less than less material but it seems to be working I haven’t processed any to metal yet but I’m trying it’s been quite a learning process and I think they Hide the information do you know who I’m talking about been lied to our whole l lifeAnyways thanks for all your info no hard work it’s great watching your videos I love them❤

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      What? Siri does not understand what you mean, and neither do I.

    • @christopherleubner6633
      @christopherleubner6633 Před 5 měsíci

      Roasting the ore will burn off sulfur selenium telluride and arsenic. What is left is much easier to process for getting the gold out. My process is crushing followed by gravity separation to get a concentrate of metal ores. Next is roasting to free the metals and oxidize the more reactive ones. Next the concentrate is mixed with charcoal and a little limestone and some of the quartz sand and blasted with air to reduce and melt the metals that form an ingot at the bottom. This ingot is then put into a sulfuric acid bath. This dissolves everything more reactive than copper and copper plates out on the cathode. The gold silver lead and other less reactive stuff formes a paste on the anode side. This paste is then washed with nitric acid and that grabs the silver. Next the paste is washed with Aqua Regia and that grabs the gold. The stuff that remains is lead antimony and other insoluble stuff mostly as sulfates or oxychlorides.

  • @altonlynch5464
    @altonlynch5464 Před rokem

    I'll see about buying your book.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem

      You may be able to get it through Amazon.

  • @anniehing6813
    @anniehing6813 Před rokem

    I like to know sand gold and yellow gold I have some Tq

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +1

      We have a language translation problem.

  • @mustafaateeq2574
    @mustafaateeq2574 Před rokem

    ❤❤❤❤thank you , how about jinchan

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před rokem +1

      Jinchan is not a word in English, so I do not understand what you mean.

    • @11_wisnu_11
      @11_wisnu_11 Před rokem

      ​​@@ChrisRalph I think he talk about the patented Gold stripping (cyanide free) chemical from China.

  • @brunoperezortega1961
    @brunoperezortega1961 Před 8 měsíci

    9:45
    28:48

  • @DonHavjuan
    @DonHavjuan Před měsícem

    This is a 3 min video stretched out to 40.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před měsícem

      If you want a 3 minute video and you see a video that is 40 minutes long, why do you watch? Seems pretty stupid to me.

  • @محمدالصنعاني-و9ه

    ❤❤❤

  • @nontokozoprincess3771
    @nontokozoprincess3771 Před 10 měsíci

    😘

  • @lanesteele240
    @lanesteele240 Před měsícem

    2x speed. You are welcome

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před měsícem

      Oh, wait - I am supposed to care about your opinion? LOL 😆

    • @lanesteele240
      @lanesteele240 Před měsícem

      @@ChrisRalph am i supposed to watch you slowly talk us to death? Spit it out bro. I got other stuff to watch. 😂. But honestly, you are the one that will lose viewers because your 30 min video can be done in 15. So you should care.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před měsícem

      No, buddy - just because you cant pay attention or don't want to learn - that doesn't mean everyone is like you. You need to realize you are the oddball and a tiny minority. Most a not like you. I get 20X more compliments on the detail I go into. You should just watch shorts and anything else you should ignore - real learning just isn't for you. My evidence is that I have 108K subscribers - because I don't listen to oddballs like you.

    • @lanesteele240
      @lanesteele240 Před měsícem

      @@ChrisRalph sure buddy. I hurt your feelings….. at 2x speed.

    • @ChrisRalph
      @ChrisRalph  Před měsícem

      As I said at first, I could care less about your opinions. You still watched, I still got paid, I'll laugh about it all the way to the bank.