Morlock Posted April 18, 2019 Share Posted April 18, 2019 How does one determine the % of gold in electrum? I have a specimen of electrum that defies attempts to streak for acid testing. The electrum is finely interspersed throughout the matrix. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nugget108 Posted April 18, 2019 Share Posted April 18, 2019 I think that would have to be sent off to an assay lab. Thats a good question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morlock Posted April 18, 2019 Author Share Posted April 18, 2019 Dan, I'm hoping that's my last resort. I'd like to to somehow check for gold % without damaging the specimen. I'm going to take it to a manufacturing jeweler down the street in a couple weeks to get their opinion. In the meantime if anyone has any suggestions, I'd like to know what they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nugget108 Posted April 18, 2019 Share Posted April 18, 2019 No i mean with a XRF analyzer. I know the assay labs here have them but not sure if they would in your area. Pretty sure the XRF would do it. I could be wrong though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morlock Posted April 18, 2019 Author Share Posted April 18, 2019 Would a xrf zero in on the electrum by itself? Or would it anaylize the specimen as a whole which means the calcite as well? I have very little knowledge of xrf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nugget108 Posted April 18, 2019 Share Posted April 18, 2019 It will do the whole specimen, then should tell you the percentage of everything. I thought one of the fellers here was telling me about it. Worth looking into i think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Au Seeker Posted April 18, 2019 Share Posted April 18, 2019 Agreed, a XRF scan should tell all the content of the specimen in percentages, at least the surface area. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morlock Posted April 18, 2019 Author Share Posted April 18, 2019 I'll check locally to see if someone has xrf. I really don't want to send it out unless I absolutely have to. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedrock Bob Posted April 18, 2019 Share Posted April 18, 2019 The XRF only tells you the elements in the little spot the laser hits. Not on the entire specimen. XRF gives percentages of a HOMOGENOUS MATERIAL. If the material is not homogenous then the values can be really skewed. You could hit several places and draw some broad conclusions. Microscopy and GC/MS is how they determine exactly what is what and how much. Take it to any materials analytics lab and they can point you in the right direction. A University, a construction/engineering outfit or a remediation contractor always has access to labs that can tell you exactly what you have. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morlock Posted April 19, 2019 Author Share Posted April 19, 2019 14 hours ago, Bedrock Bob said: The XRF only tells you the elements in the little spot the laser hits. Not on the entire specimen. XRF gives percentages of a HOMOGENOUS MATERIAL. If the material is not homogenous then the values can be really skewed. You could hit several places and draw some broad conclusions. Microscopy and GC/MS is how they determine exactly what is what and how much. Take it to any materials analytics lab and they can point you in the right direction. A University, a construction/engineering outfit or a remediation contractor always has access to labs that can tell you exactly what you have. You're right but it would probably cost more then the specimen itself. I did contact a lab that does material analytics just to see what they have to say. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reno Chris Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 In a very simplistic way, you can roughly estimate the percent silver by color - here is a chart of the colors of gold/silver/copper alloys. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morlock Posted April 21, 2019 Author Share Posted April 21, 2019 I figured color might give a general idea but never saw this chart until now. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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