Gold Pour

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Gold Pour Video

One of the differences in working for a precious metals recovery firm, than say a consumer electronic retailer or an electronic manufacturer, is that the process of making the product really hasn't changed in centuries.  The process has improved, but not changed.

 On Wednesday, July 25, I traveled to the Homestake McLaughlin Mine to watch a "gold pour".  Approximately 4000 troy ounces of dore were poured at approximately 45% gold and 55% is silver into eight bars.

Many thanks to John Mack, Steve Mitchell and Phil Dahl for allowing me to record these pictures.

John Mack escorts me into the Gold recovery Room

Phil pours off the slag mixture of borax prior to pouring the gold

Steve attaches a vacuum glass tube to the tongs that Steve dips into the molten gold to

The assay tubes used to determine the ratio of gold to silver

Molten gold in the first mold

Phil stacks up each of the molds

Phil tips a gold bar into Steve's shovel for quenching

Steve carries a bar to the bucket of water to cool it off

These bars are heavier than they look

With all eight of the bars in the bucket, the water is boiling

Steve prepares the bars by knocking off the "slag".

Eight bars ready for finishing with the steel brush

Phil Dahl and Steve Mitchell in front of their work

This bar is much heavier than it look, just ask me.