My Recent Lockdown Project: Crushing High Grade Rock

[Reno Chris]

So I'm stuck at home and decided that I wanted to crush some rock that I had. It was just a hair over a pound of rock, but these were all pieces that were found with a detector. None had nice gold showing, most had no gold showing but were quartz, from a district known for producing high grade, and made my GM1000 sing. None were good candidates for specimens, none really made the detector scream, so I thought these were good bits of rock for crushing. One piece was from California, the rest were from a little obscure gold district in Nevada that produced very little but what they did produce was pretty high grade. I've attached a photo of the rock before crushing. I was really surprised by the outcome. I got over 15 grams, nearly half an ounce  - 0.49 ounces. I wish I had a 100 pounds of this rock - the grade comes out at about 1,000 ounces per ton. No surprise that the button is a little light in color, Nevada gold is often on the electrum side of things. I did a video on the whole process of going from raw rock to a finished dore button.

[AU_Solitude]

Very impressive Chris. I've been binging on your videos and ICMJ while on lockdown here. 

[beatup]

outstanding Chris

[Steve Herschbach]

Great project for times like these! 👍🏼

[delnorter]

Real nice and easy video Chris. 

Thanks, Mike

[strick]

I'm not even done watching the whole video yet and I can say I need one of those Jaw rock crushers... what is the make and model if it is something that is still made? 

strick

[AU_Solitude]

7 minutes ago, strick said:

I'm not even done watching the whole video yet and I can say I need one of those Jaw rock crushers... what is the make and model if it is something that is still made? 

strick

It looks like a Braun Chipmunk? Although I've never seen one operated by hand like that which I thought was pretty slick. 

[Reno Chris]

Its an old Bico-Braun. Its been long since they made this model but they still make ones like it.

[Nevada Brian]

I really enjoyed your detailed video Chris, thank you.   For the little quartz and gold rocks I’m able to locate, I use a dolly pot and yes you are right, my hands get really sore after awhile, but it is sure fun making buttons.

Brian. 

[PeterInSa]

Great Video Chris, Thanks

Liked your Chain Crusher, have given up taking likely rocks back home, have not used my Dolly Pot and sold my 3 different size gold pans at a Garage sale.

Will stick to detecting otherwise I could get the rock breaking fever like this Husband/Wife Team in WA, Oz..