Turning Gold Dust into Nuggets: Feasibility and Value

Question
Dear Thomas, I have a jar(like a babyfood jar) full of 14 karat gold dust, can I and if so make it in to a nugget. I would like to sell the dust but can't find a buyer for such a small quantity so I thought if I could form it into a nugget it might be easier to find a buyer.  Thank You Jessie

Answer
Jessie, I have not tried to sell gold dust except to refiners. Then, we have several ounces of dust and scrap to send in.

I agree a "nugget" or button (a single item of gold) will be easier to sell. This way, the purchaser can test the sample and get a reading of the karat. With dust, who knows except you what is in the jar?

Unless you have a torch and crucible to melt the gold into a single piece, you will have to get someone else to do that for you.  One of the problems with dust is the melting process. The metal must be totally saturated with a boric acid alcohol mix to start, the alcohol burning off with the first hint of a flame. Then, a soft flame without much velocity is used to keep the dust from blowing away. As heat is applied, the boric acid does two things: First, the boric acid melts and acts as a binder to keep the dust together. Secondly, the boric acid acts to keep the metal from taking on too much oxidation and helps provide a clean melt.

This can be done in a recess cut into a jeweler's charcoal block or in a ceramic crucible made for melting metals.

The metal is gently melted until all joins together and a nice blob of molten gold is there under the flame, showing a sort of shimmering or "moving surface". Toss a pinch more of the boric acid onto the glob as it almost reaches the "shimmering moving" point, heat a bit more then remove the flame.  

You will see the metal at a fairly bright red color and in a moment will see the surface take on a more satin look as the metal starts to cool and harden.  Poke it with a stainless steel rod or similar and see if the metal is hard enough to move from the crucible, it you used one. Then turn all over and push the metal onto a cooling surface, like a charcoal block or heat proof pad. All is still very hot!  Leaving the metal in the crucible to final cool will make the metal almost glued to the crucible from the boric acid and it will be difficult to remove. You need to get it out of the crucible after the metal is solid enough to move and before cold enough for the boric acid to harden.

I do hope this helps a bit. Use the follow-up option if you need to concerning your question.

God Bless and Peace. Thomas. July 23, 2007  8:20PM