Nugget Shooter 3,657 Posted April 13 Lots of wind today in the desert, but managed a slightly unattractive half gram specimen, mostly gold, but will not clean up much more that it is now. Got it with the GM 1000 and it was down about 8 inches on bedrock under a small bench. 12 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Uncle Ron 1,145 Posted April 13 Gold is gold, Billy, but some bits stretch it.... That target, that deep reveals amazing combo of operator and machine! WTG. Cheers, Unc 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nugget Shooter 3,657 Posted April 13 24 minutes ago, Uncle Ron said: Gold is gold, Billy, but some bits stretch it.... That target, that deep reveals amazing combo of operator and machine! WTG. Cheers, Unc It was what we call a chirp with the GM 1000 Ron and without a threshold it sounds very different than a VLF with one. It was a one way "chirp" that became an actual target once a couple inches of dirt and rocks were removed. Then it was a bang on right side hit on the ferrous/non-ferrous bar, yes I dig all targets but it is more exciting when the detector thinks it is a "good" target. I was hunting in "deep" "auto one" and crawling like a snail in a minefield. 5 1 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NvAuMiner 142 Posted April 14 (edited) "crawling like a snail in a minefield." That should be the 'Tip of the day!!! When you know you're in the right area and you know that it's around in the specific area you're walking... you crawl. Good on you for picking out the chirp in the high winds. I think like Ron's thinking (and a lot of others I'm sure) "Gold is gold" be it ugly and small.... it beats the hell out of the skunkster. Congrats and thanks for posting er up Edited April 14 by NvAuMiner 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Uncle Ron 1,145 Posted April 14 The no threshold feature is great...That's the way I've always hunted with the GMs, GB and GB2, ML2100 and GPX 4500 ... I do not like thresholds... Cheers, Unc 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomH 1,965 Posted April 14 WTG Beel! Yah, it is kind of ugly...but its gold Congrats. It would have been ugly if you were out in a open flat area with all the wind today. Next time Tom H. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adam 2,030 Posted April 14 I agree ! That is one ugly nugget 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andyy 807 Posted April 14 Ugly is the face of the person who finds out you spent the entire day swinging a pole in the wind and didn't find a scrap of gold. You sir get the smiley face instead. As for the "chirp" ... you let the cat out of the bag on that one. It took me a little bit to realize those chirps actually meant something. Thanks for sharing that beauty. Andyy 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 66 Posted April 14 Bill A nugget is like a woman none ugly but some look better than others. Chuck 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nugget Shooter 3,657 Posted April 14 9 hours ago, adam said: I agree ! That is one ugly nugget It is in 55% Hydrofluoric getting a bath right now.... 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nugget Shooter 3,657 Posted April 14 Clean, very rough, Electrum and gold specimen.... WOW may be on to something here, more exploring needed...... 7 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Terry Soloman 610 Posted April 14 Getting prettier! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Au Seeker 2,078 Posted April 14 The electrum explains why it was so dark and ugly when you found it!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Uncle Ron 1,145 Posted April 14 I didn't know that hfl would not dissolve silver...good to gain new knowledge...what the forum is all about...Cheers, Unc 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Micro Nugget 607 Posted April 14 By my lights Bill, it went from ugly with no character before taking a bath to not so ugly anymore and definitely some revealed character! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nugget Shooter 3,657 Posted April 14 Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is a solution of hydrogen fluoride in water. Hydrofluoric acid is a highly corrosive acid, capable of dissolving many materials, especially oxides. Because of its high reactivity toward glass and moderate reactivity toward many metals, hydrofluoric acid is usually stored in plastic containers (although polytetrafluoroethylene is slightly permeable to it). Hydrofluoric acid attacks the silicon oxide in most types of glass. It also dissolves many metals (not nickel or its alloys, gold, platinum, or silver), and most plastics. Fluorocarbons such as Teflon (TFE and FEP), chlorosulfonated polyethylenene, natural rubber and neoprene all are resistant to hydrofluoric acid. Hydrofluoric acid is so corrosive because the fluorine ion is highly reactive. Even so, it is not considered a 'strong' acid because it does not completely dissociate in water. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fishing8046 203 Posted April 15 Hey Bill Would this be the same Hydrochloric Acid that a fellow can buy from Wallmart? Just Curious I have a specimen I would like to mess with, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nugget Shooter 3,657 Posted April 15 15 minutes ago, fishing8046 said: Hey Bill Would this be the same Hydrochloric Acid that a fellow can buy from Wallmart? Just Curious I have a specimen I would like to mess with, Hydrofluoric..... Way different stuff my friend and sure don't want to breath it or touch it. I once was doing some specimens in a shed with windows... Went back a day later and dang windows were frosted from the open plastic beaker 's fumes I was cooking species in. Glad I learned the hard way without dying.... Hydrochloric would have dissolved the silver Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lanny in AB 94 Posted April 15 Nicely done, and all the best,Lanny 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AzNuggetBob 1,343 Posted April 15 Wow Bill I guess that detector doesn't discriminate on looks. Hey gold's gold, its all beautiful in its own way. AzNuggetBob 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Morlock 705 Posted April 15 Would HFL brighten a small specimen of electrum I found years ago? It's a neat looking electrum wire in matrix but it doesn't look bright because of the copper and silver in it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NvAuMiner 142 Posted April 15 (edited) HF will do quite a good job on cleaning up your gold specimens. But... it is nasty (dangeruos) stuff and IMHO it should not be handled with inexperienced hands. PPE is critical when using the stuff. It could be a game changer if it makes contact with your eye's, skin or respiratory system. Don't mean to preach... jus throwing caution into the wind. I have never used HF but have friends that do, and the result is awesome. I use 'Whink - Rust Stain Remover' found at Wallyworld and most hardware stores. It has a very small amount of HF in it and does a good job if you have the paitence to let it sit for days and change out the solution every so often. Have fun -n- Be safe Edited April 15 by NvAuMiner Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Morlock 705 Posted April 15 I've used HFL acid many times previously and am well aware of the potential hazards. I just wanted to know what type of results might be expected when using it on a electrum wire on matrix specimen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nugget Shooter 3,657 Posted April 15 I think copper will dissolve in HFL, not sure though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
