Gold Recovery & Refining with Hydrogen Peroxide, Easier Gold Smelting

We are trying to find a fast, safe, and efficient way to recover more gold and oxidize the sulfides in our ore. Hydrogen peroxide is a strong oxidizer and in this experiment we try to use concentrated H2O2 to oxidize our sulfides and liberate ore gold for recovery and later refining. The experiment didn't go exactly as planned, but it did answer some questions for us on a better refining and gold smelting method.
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[@EastBayFlipper]

When dealing with hydrogen sulphide gas, there are a couple of factors 1. Use a fume hood. This stuff is no joke 2. If you stop smelling the H2S, RUN!!! H2S in higher concentrations will shut down your ability to detect it. I grew up near a heavy water plant 😉

[@anthonymarcocasamsssima8998]

From a chemistry perspective: Add some water to your sample so you can stir (as quickly as possible) while slowly adding the peroxide (H2O2) to it. Most likely some manganese (or similar) acting as a catalyst to decompose the peroxide to oxygen and water (2 H2O2 ---> 2 H2O + O2). Most of the oxygen that is released (~165 grams from a liter of 35% hydrogen peroxide) is just being released into the air. By stiring your sample and adding the peroxide slowly, you will get a far more efficient reaction.

[@chancebutler6472]

thank you

[@markthomas4083]

Very useful tip Mr. Anthony. Thank you sir.

[@Metal_Master_YT]

I was going to comment this...

[@FhumulaniKhorommbi]

I like you work

[@FhumulaniKhorommbi]

I need help I have minerals at my house all over

[@B0NGSHEAD]

Refining with Sodium Bisulphate It was considered that the silver as well as the base metals might be removed by some preliminary treatment. Nitric acid was ineffective on the retorted gold tried; sulphuric acid had little effect, but on testing with bisulphate of sodium it was found that base metals were removed or oxidised, and that silver sulphate formed The retorted gold was heated in porcelain or dense fireclay pots to a dull red heat for some time, generally as long as sulphur dioxide was evolved. The fused pyrosulphate was then poured out, and the cake drained as completely as possible. These were afterwards washed with hot water until the silver sulphate had been removed. The cake of melted pyrosulphate was also dissolved, and the silver present in the solution precipitated on iron, or by other well-known means. The gold could now be smelted, and invariably would be found to be much purer than when smelted by older methods. The silver and base metals were also removed at a fraction of the cost required by the chlorine method. The results obtained, however, were variable; one sample would be purified from about 80 to 96 per cent., yet another would only be increased by five or six per cent. The cause of this variation seemed to be that when coarse gold is amalgamated the mercury only affects the outer crust, so that on retorting there would be left pieces of gold porous on the outside, but unaltered within. In order to determine whether the gold and silver, if amalgamated in a fine state of division and then retorted would part, 80 grains of gold and 20 grains of silver were taken and amalgamated. The amalgam was retorted, and the resulting gold was of pale yellow colour. This was treated by boiling with strong sulphuric acid, which removed part of the silver; it was afterwards treated by fusion with sodium bisulphate, which removed more. The gold remaining was then washed with water, and after the silver sulphate had been removed the metal was weighed and parted. It was found to consist of: Gold, 97.2; silver, 2.8. It is, therefore, a difficult matter to remove the whole of the silver, even when finely divided originally by this treatment: It might be stated here, although detailed reference will be made to it later on, that by using phosphoric acid with sulphate of sodium as a solvent that the retorted gold made in the same way was raised to: 99.2 gold. 0.8 silver.

[@dirtyminerapparel]

Not sure how I didn’t find this channel before but I love it! It’s like watching my kids do a STEM project but with gold!

[@WheezinGeezerTV]

I watch tons of gold mining, recovery, and reviews. So to be added at this point is tough because I want my feeds to have more than just gold recovery videos. However, what it takes to get added is good solid information and techniques. And you deliver both. And doing a failing experiment is one of them. I'm sure a lot of prospectors try these tricks and you've proven that it might not be worth the trouble. I don't know, I was impressed with the video and procedures used, and comparison techniques. So for those reasons I have no other choice but to add you to the subscriptions. Well done. I look forward to more.

[@TheMilwaukieDan]

Thankyou Jason. I learned so much. I’ll watch it a few more times with notes. You are incredible.

[@johnwedow2117]

Thank you Sir . 23 years ago my Daughter and I camped in Montaana pre Grizz . We found gold pandemic recently returned there and am exploring the source . I spent 5 weeks this past summer 20 MI in dodging Grizz and tons of Moose . So it's back at it after melt off . I appreciate that I am a fit 71 year guy . Cheers.

[@MrD308]

Another very informative video Jason. Thanks for taking the time showing us these processes.

[@playerzero2236]

Thanks a bunch for these refining videos without complex chemicals. Can't tell you how much that helps my operation capabilities.

[@TheGayestPersononYouTube]

Just as a tip if you do this with peroxide in the future, some oxides (namely manganese dioxide) will catalytically break down the peroxide so you may never get it to stop fizzing depending on the sample. Also, adding HCl to the peroxide might start dissolving the free gold into solution as the H2O2 is strong enough to oxidize the gold for the HCl to dissolve like nitric acid is in aqua regia. Love your channel, man!

[@TechGorilla1987]

Where the heck have you been, man!?! I enjoy your content.

[@TheRolemodel1337]

nice to see you here :D

[@mbmmllc]

Thanks for the tip!

[@mikeconnery4652]

Great video. First put the 50 grams into a jar, then add 4 parts muratic acid to 1 part nitric acid. This fluid should be heated past 150* f for a few minutes You should get a bright yellow fluid. Add pure water and drain the fluid only out.

[@ToddDunning]

Love your videos Jason. You cut right through it and come up with the goods every time, and explain it really well.

[@mwilson14]

The H2O2 is mostly decomposing via catalytic in that process. It is best to roast with potassium nitrate.

[@Alrik.]

Very nice experiment, thank you for sharing! There's lots of gold (panning) channels on KZbin and I always wonder how much gold theh throw out in their sulfides. I'd love to see more experiments like this!

[@bobgontarek6207]

Jason, as always awesome videos. Very informative! I wish I could join you in your experiments and learn what you know!!

[@harlandbiggs5635]

This was fun to watch! Thanks for the tips!

[@mikebrown0262]

Safety tip, a filtered mask does not protect against H2S gas. The only protection from H2S is a supplied air respirator.

[@xephael3485]

Respirator does to a point

[@scrappydoo7887]

@@xephael3485 to a point isnt being protected though is it lol

[@xephael3485]

@@scrappydoo7887 The point I was talking about is the level H2S you're exposed to. They don't make acid gas & organic vapor respirator filters that specifically filter hydrogen sulfide for no reason... Mike brown is wrong in saying they don't protect against H2S gas, because they do.

[@scrappydoo7887]

@@xephael3485 and if i hadn't made you clarify your point people would be thinking that all respirators provide protection "to a point"

[@xephael3485]

@@scrappydoo7887 just like bullet proof vests provide protection to a point... Nothing wrong with thinking that.

[@kevinfreeman3098]

Use jet dry, you have gold suspended in/on the water, helps break the surface tension to let it fall to the bottom.

[@tinabenham7731]

Dang!! You sure are a smart one.. need more people like you in this world.. love watching your videos.. 😊 stay safe, happy, n healthy. 👍

[@michaelwalker4456]

I tried this a while ago. You need to add 90% acetic acid to break the oxide layer you built on the surface of the sulfides. The reaction will continue over and over till nothing is left to oxidize. The reaction is a exothermic one that boils over, the bubbles cool it and it reheats as the next layer oxidizes. This is paracetic acid. Acetic and hydrogen peroxide. You can add salt to it as well.

[@1607rosie]

Love your videos . It's like I'm sitting in a mining class.

[@GSProspecting]

Great work fam. Cool indeed. Gold squad out!!!

[@dewardtaylor4192]

Thanks for your time Jason it was a great video

[@jorojinnomad549]

Thank you Jason... from Jason.. (Jorojin Nomad) .... love your work and experiments..

[@AU-Hunt]

Watching this and a notification came up for a new one 💪😏 keepem comin ..love the content

[@jonathansonnier3078]

Awesome education brother thank you for doing and sharing unsuccessful melts too I have learned a lot from binge watching your videos 😂

[@michaeloppenheimer2582]

You know your chemistry man !!

[@terischannel]

Very cool experiment. Great video!

[@CuriousEarthMan]

Great video, thank you Jason!

[@fatrasvk3780]

I like these experiments, nice !

[@abbasal-hamdanitrq5307]

Best Channel in Gold Exploration My greetings to you 👍

[@wayne-oo]

Great experiment !

[@paulipuhakka8788]

Very informative, thank you! Saved for future reference.

[@MrAllan9]

My favorite gold recovery videos.👍

[@Fdeubcfhbbjhfd]

I’m really glad you found H202. God bless

[@bryanburton2945]

Great info and vid.. always wondered about that now I know!

[@dannyfubar3099]

Great stuff, thank you for trying & for sharing.

[@inthenightandy4616]

Great video! Found the mat explanation very helpful.

[@mbmmllc]

Great to hear!

[@navschannel3908]

Hate to tell you, but if you had added HCL to the h2o2 (Hydrogen Peroxide) it will create a weak version of aqua regia, and start dissolving the gold and other precious metals... and basically, not a good plan. If you add an air hose into the crucible with just atmospheric air being pumped in, it will during the smelt oxidize all the sulfides, and you can actually turn the gas off in the furnace and it will continue to heat, as the air and sulfides combust... crazy stuff, I know, but a huge bit of fun to watch .

[@garrisonkoby3448]

could you pump oxygen down there? using a tiny medical tank/regulator, a bubbler to prevent blowback then down threw a high pressure stainless steel braided hose.? I happen to have these random items, But I am under strict rules not to blow the house up with my projects. lol , thank you!!

[@navschannel3908]

@@garrisonkoby3448 atmospheric air is absolutely preferable, pure O2 in this case would be an extreme option, and blowing up your house might not happen, however, the smelt would in all likelihood super heat, at least into the 3000 degrees F... Using braided stainless, is good, the idea is to not and consumable metals to the smelt... stainless, is a great choice. I use atmospheric air from a 35 lb air compressor, and a regulator value to add the air...

[@mariodibenedetto4160]

U r so correct I'm surprised he didn't know

[@Alondro77]

Adding HCl with the peroxide will dissolve the gold as well. Might be useful to make a concentrate of gold chloride solution and leave all the silicates behind.

[@chosen1one930]

You need morw than Hcl And Peroxide, you need heat, a lot plus stirring AND a vast amount of Peroxide. The ratio can be 1:5 when all said and done. Its cheaper to just use nitric acid since you can dissolve 4 troy ounces in 300ml HCL plus 15ml Nitric

[@jamisontaylor878]

Excellent video as always thank you 😊 🙏 👍

[@TomokosEnterprize]

Dean here. I am a pourer of SM's and as I do torch work on friends plaser I am thinking this may be my salvation for all that come to me with bits and pieces of their hard worked for beautise they worked so hard for. Thankx bud. Drug store peroxide is plenty and easy on the wallet eh. later on I see that more needs to go into this project but anything is better than quicksilver eh !

[@maverickbryan7579]

GOOD JOB, thanks again for educating me

[@kevinsteve9453]

Keep BLAZING a trail, exellent info, thanks

[@rayeaglenz]

Thanks for your time Jason it was a great video 👍😊

[@garyssprinklerrepair]

Well done and informative as well.✌️

[@Farida-A.R.]

Amazing information, thanks for sharing.

[@jasonvoth2427]

Hey man I live in concrete just east of you and I appreciate this video big time man help me out a lot in my situation

[@ironhorse7588]

Great experiment

[@StirlingLighthouse]

Really cool work. Thank you 👍

[@mbmmllc]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@nickb5410]

Great informative video Jason. Thanks

[@mbmmllc]

Glad it was helpful!

[@josephcormier5974]

Nice and informative thank you two thumbs

[@ericdemeo5249]

Like the video, a good control experiment would to pan down a pan full of sample. Recover as much gold as possible. Then that same sample dry and put peroxide on it like you did, however if there’s gold it works if there is no more gold than you could identify that was left when you panned it down the 1st time it didn’t work. Great video appreciate the work you put into it. Awesome

[@mehurtmyfinger]

Gday mate. You probably dissolved some gold into the H2O2. Add a piece of copper into the H2O2, and see if any black metal cements onto it, to recover any that has been dissolved

[@whynotdean8966]

Gold oxide isn't water soluble.

[@mehurtmyfinger]

@@whynotdean8966 he's using H2O2. making it extremely soluble in presence of tap water, which contains chlorine, unless it was tank water he used.

[@whynotdean8966]

@@mehurtmyfinger H2O2 just oxidizes it. I seriously doubt the tiny amount of chlorine in tap water would dissolve anything at all. There's a reason you need a lot of very concentrated acid to dissolve gold normally.

[@garrisonkoby3448]

wouldnt a stannous chloride test be the best way to quickly check ?

[@swatbaer]

@@garrisonkoby3448 yes stannous chloride should be used on all solutions PERIOD. Unless you want to lose values. Is he aware of testing precious metal wastes?

[@paulcoover9197]

My crazy idea is to float out the fines in the foam like they do floating platinum ore. I have always heard that if you get any oil. your fines will float away. not the 100 fines--the 200 fines and even smaller. Aussie Bloke Prospecting uses a vibrator and slows his sluice and the angle is 11 inches of run to 1 inch of rise. It may be that a heavily conditioned shampoo or just conditioner? who knows. Keep up the good work. And Thank you.

[@CandSMINING]

Really good experiment. I seem to learn something new on every video.😎⛏⛏🔥🔥

[@joshp6061]

Hydrogen peroxide also oxidizes iron, it’s a big contributor to stainless steel rust. It’s possible you were just eating away at the gold pan itself. I would use a plastic or glass vessel to perform the reaction next time. Also the smoke your were getting was probably just steam from the peroxide boiling from the heat of the reaction. You could probably use half as much and get the same result from adding smaller portions at a time

[@daz41262010]

interesting experiment :) well explained :) great information :)

[@edwardnava2353]

Cool awesome, greetings from Aruba🌴

[@kencarbon2346]

Enjoyed watching your video.🙂

[@TechGorilla1987]

Much of the 'smoke' is steam BTW. H2O2 is what the original rocket pack used. Over a platinum catalyst I believe.

[@MrMackievelli]

There is likely plenty of hydrogen sulfide which would be a side product of the reaction.

[@jbizzbuildsmanstuff9932]

It was silver and peroxide for rockets

[@barnowlboxes35]

Can the H202 be recovered from tne steam to be used as fuel for my car? I have a hydrogen unit installed now.

[@freedomwarriorsunited9712]

Just started watching your videos over the past few days and I’m hooked. Love watching pure research 🧐 being performed through commonsensical researchers outside of the constraints of the learned indoctrinated system. Love it!!

[@flashpointrecycling]

The balance of the weight is probably dissolved in the liquid that you decanted.

[@SilverScorpion]

Super video and info. Tjanks

[@joshuajackson6442]

Thank you, I really enjoyed this video. It would be interesting to see a video including a solution of H2O2 + HCL.

[@whynotdean8966]

It could potentially start dissolving the gold instead of releasing it.

[@benderrodriguez142]

If you add water before the peroxide it will allow you to use less. Going with the straight 35% peroxide a lot is getting wasted to thermal decomp as opposed to oxidizing the sulfur compounds. Or do it with the gold pan in an ice bath to slow manage the heat.

[@Askjeffwilliams]

really good experiment Jason.....great explanation of the process ....love how you are pushing the envelope...we smashed that like button and we are Subscribed and hit the Bell icon so we don't miss anything ...... good job sonny Jim.

[@mbmmllc]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@micheleshaw4280]

Ive learned alot fro u 2 jeff but mostly on ancient aliens talk about food for tbe "BRAIN" yummy😋😉🙃🙂thanks guys

[@TechGorilla1987]

So you know what I'm gonna' say?!?!?

[@micheleshaw4280]

@@TechGorilla1987 not all the time lol

[@micheleshaw4280]

Jus on the days u allow me too

[@kerrypurcell6022]

interesting,,,,,,i will try this,,,,,,,,,thank you for the information,,,,,

[@rogerlane474]

Very informative!

[@lonpearson2134]

Surprised it didn’t melt the pan. Good experiment.

[@ProspectorTripp]

Nice work and great explanation of the process. Thanks Jason ✌️PT

[@mikewaddell8814]

Super interesting brother 👍

[@piranhabadass1]

Great Video!

[@magdalenehenricus2075]

Thank you God bless you

[@rogerdudra178]

Good experiment.

[@BRYDN_NATHAN]

thank you i like experiments .

[@embuscadosmetais]

Fantastic your videos, I have a question, would it be interesting to burn the ore before soaking it in H2O2?

[@ricardboswell7490]

Good video very helpful

[@jennodine]

Reminds me of the wicked witch melting. I was wondering if you would melt your pan. Neat.

[@mfree80286]

Your gold there is likely superfine powder that was stripped physically from the ore by the peroxide getting underneath and decomposing, popping it off. Which means it's good to see it, but the yield ultimately would have been similar anyways. You must have a little manganese in your ore, that H2O2 catalyzed extremely quickly... but that also means it all decomposed without doing much chemically.

[@dougcunha4120]

Thank you very informative

[@chancebutler6472]

thank you very much

[@whynotdean8966]

Yeah it really seems like some mineral is catalytically breaking down the H2O2. I'm betting most of your peroxide is getting wasted before it gets to react with the sulfides unfortunately. Very cool experiment though!

[@embuscadosmetais]

Mas não é esse o propósito de redução?

[@joeestes8114]

Very interesting a guy on KZbin named streetips does alot of refining gold and precious metals. Thanks for sharing! I subscribed

[@c.jjohns6758]

I'm a sub of streetips, very smart dude

[@reshdarkoshur]

thank you teacher♥️

[@johnramirez5032]

Knowledge and perseverance is key to success and you have both. You lab methods are both scientific and intresting. How ever i dont think you determined recovered gold content of each sample. More refined steps could get you the answer if you hadnt mixed the slag?

[@petterandersson7429]

Would have been interesting to see a 100g roasted sample as a control.

[@DeadJDona]

It would be interesting though to see iron smelting with and without h2o2

[@joshua.snyder]

That is one old pulverizer. Amazing how long they hold up.

[@micheleshaw4280]

Awesome love all these tips

[@mbmmllc]

Thanks so much!

[@micheleshaw4280]

@@mbmmllc oh you are definately welcome u have taught me soooo much ,,,i cant wait to show u my finished product when i get there

[@micheleshaw4280]

Hi can anyone help me with current smelting prob,,,i 4got to heat up my crucible b4 i started my first big smelt,,did i damage my crucible and the stuff inside ,,could i still use my crucible even if the goods inside are gone? Do i need new crucible😪

[@johnramirez5032]

Great info and intrestimg

[@ataali4279]

You can use aqua regia . Its use for for gold . 1/4 nitric 3/4 hcl = let gold be liquid . Then use smp acid then you get gold Powder

[@c.jjohns6758]

Learned that on streetips channel

[@alexnutu1125]

wow crazy man awesome

[@wbwillie]

holy crap, that's a hell of a reaction

[@benlee4940]

Might be worth experimenting with dissolved oxygen to oxidise the sulphides... 4 x 5 Gallon buckets with aquarium pumps. 50g of ore in each and some water. one with no air as a control, one with just air, one with some lye and one with some acid, probably sulphuric acid, but it might be worth using Hydrochloric acid, and seeing if anything cements out on copper afterwards. Leave them for a week then do the same process you used in this video to see if it has any affect. Temperature will have an affect, so as a minimum just note down what the temperature was when you did it, or try another set of buckets somewhere warmer than your shop if you can. If it works, it's certainly cheaper than peroxide. Probably won't be as good or fast as roasting, but might be worth experimenting. From what I've read about using Hydrogen peroxide, it's mainly for cyanide leaching where they add oxygen, the peroxide is used to bring the yield back up from the increased oxygen consumption caused by the sulphides. It's also used with HCl to dissolve the gold, as others have said, this avoids using Cyanide leaching.

[@frankroberts9320]

I think most of the boiling was just decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. Finely divided materials, especially metals, will catalyze violent decomposition of H2O2. You might have better luck adding a solid oxidizer such as potassium nitrate to your sulfides and igniting the mix.

[@dumpbear0]

You can buy H2O2 from hair salons or hair salon supply stores at 40% & 50% by volume and it’s cheaper but be sure to get the liquid not the cream. I use it for bleaching skulls for European mounts.

[@walterrusiat8386]

Just make my day, nice video. Question: Can Hydro Peroxide burn dry sand gold..

[@bobbylong2202]

Wow I enjoyed it

[@thereforeayam]

I knew a guy that knew con artist stuff. He used to keep a big jar 1/3 full of acid. He'd throw bits of discarded computer chips, etc, in there because it "got the gold out".