This Gold Specimen Turned Out Better Than I Expected

[Glenn in CO]

 

When I find a gold specimen like this, I usually don't get too excited about cleaning it. One of the main reasons is this type of gold specimen when going through the cleaning process will lose some or all its shape and character resulting in a disappointing specimen and reducing the value which in most cases it would be better to leave the specimen in its originally state. I decided to gamble and see what it's true potential might be for aesthetic and value.

This gold specimen before going through the cleaning process weighed in at 55.1 grams. You can see the gold has permeated throughout the host rock and no visual indication if the specimen will hold its shape and character. In the final cleaning process, I did leave some of the host rock for stability as the specimen would have become too fragile by removing all of it. The gold specimen after going the cleaning process lost 5.57 grams of gold resulting in the specimen now weighing 28.43 grams.

Sometimes you must gamble.

[oldcoinhunter]

So, how did you clean it?

[Valens Legacy]

Did you clean it with CLR or another chemical?

[delnorter]

That looks great Glenn.

[Glenn in CO]

9 hours ago, oldcoinhunter said:

So, how did you clean it?

Over a four week period I used Muriatic Acid, Whink and CLR.

For more detail on how I clean gold specimens, click on links below on a earlier post I did this year.

Cleaning Gold Specimens - Seven Parts

Cleaning Gold Specimens - The Final Results

 

 

[Glenn in CO]

6 hours ago, Valens Legacy said:

Did you clean it with CLR or another chemical?

Over a four week period I used Muriatic Acid, Whink and CLR. The first three weeks I used Muriatic Acid, then Whink for four days and then CLR for three days.

[IronDigger]

Beautiful specimen...turned out very nice.

[Aureous]

Looks a lot like Electrum, rather than JUST gold. If so, it would be worth a sh*tload more $$. But it could be just the type of acid process you used, that makes the gold look pale.... still an awesome result 👍

[Gerry in Idaho]

Cleaning specimens is always a gamble and I have to admit, you have the system down pretty well.  One thing I'm missing.  The before and after weight are messing with me.  Before was 55 gram and the cleaning lost 5 gram, but now the finished product is 28 gram.  Did you mean the before was 35 gram?  Either way, you have a winner on that one my friend, well done.

[Glenn in CO]

5 hours ago, Aureous said:

Looks a lot like Electrum, rather than JUST gold. If so, it would be worth a sh*tload more $$. But it could be just the type of acid process you used, that makes the gold look pale.... still an awesome result 👍

The location where this type of is found has a high silver content. Unfortunately when I take a photograph I must use low light because of the gold specimen has a highly reflective surface and will wash-out the photograph and you would not see any of the detail. This gold specimen is a combination of wire and crystalline gold and commands high dollars from collectors.