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How to refine gold

2023-04-11


Gold refining is a practice with a long history dating back many centuries. The most prevalent gold refining techniques today are flame refining and chemical refining.
There exist several methods to refine gold depending on factors such as the quantity of gold being refined and the level of purity required. Among the commonly used techniques, high-temperature flame refining and chemical refining are the most popular for achieving desired purity levels.
The technique of refining metals with flames has been utilized for centuries and is even referenced in the Bible. For refining larger quantities of gold, refining by fire was the preferred method. In the past, skilled craftsmen would sit by a blazing fire and use a crucible to stir and skim molten gold, removing impurities or dross that floated to the surface. This was a perilous job, as the flames could exceed temperatures of 1000 degrees Celsius. Today, this tradition remains largely unchanged, albeit with some improvements to safety and precision measures.
One way to refine gold is by using chemical methods. This involves dissolving the impurities from gold ore using strong acids. Once the impurities are dissolved, they are washed away, leaving behind a muddy substance that is nearly pure gold (24K or 99.999%). The muddy substance is then dried and heated with a torch to produce useable gold. The main chemicals used in this process are Hydrochloric acid and Nitric acid.
The process of refining gold involves the use of strong acids to dissolve impurities from gold ore. Once the impurities are washed away, the resulting substance is nearly pure gold. The use of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid are common in this process. The muddy substance is then dried and heated with a torch to produce usable gold.

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