Using a Mortar and Pestle to Recover Gold From Specimens

[Reno Chris]

Here is a little video I helped make on using a mortar and pestle to recover gold from specimen rock. Some specimens are really beautiful (like the one Steve showed here recently) but some are more pedestrian, and not really valuable as mineral specimens. These need to be crushed to recover the gold and this video shows how to do it cheaply and easily.
 

[LipCa]

Every piece of quartz that makes a hint of a noise I bring home and crush. There is almost always gold in them.

[klunker]

 I have a mortar that has been in the family for generations. Chris has touched on a very good point- that just because a piece of quarts has visible gold in it doesn't necessarily add value to it as a specimen. I am crushing  a lot more "specimens" than I used to. I love it when it doesn't crush well because of the gold content. I have heard stories  from an uncle of ore that didn't blast well because if the high gold content. Don't know if it's true but I've never known a gold miner to tell a lie.