1

Chemistry / Can teflon coated stir bar be used in hot Aqua Regia?

« on: 01/10/2012 20:49:03 »

Just wondering if I will ruin my PTFE coated stir bar if used in hot Aqua Regia

2

Chemistry / Is gold chloride lighter than metalic gold

« on: 30/09/2012 20:11:22 »

What if I took a gram of pure gold and dissolved it into gold chloride. Next I removed the acid I used to dissolve the gold and was left with pure gold chloride. Would it still weigh a gram?

3

Chemistry / Zinc+Oil+Aluminum=Heater?

« on: 25/09/2012 22:18:59 »

I recently read an article that claims an aluminum drum full of motor oil with a zinc rod suspended inside will produce heat for years. Is this a hoax or is there some truth to this?

4

Chemistry / What is in lead-free fishing weights?

« on: 22/09/2012 04:13:35 »

I was looking for some tin and buddy told me about lead free/tin fishing weights. I went and bought a pack. When I tried to dissolve in HCL I ran into nothing but problems. I called the manufacture and asked if this was pure tin and they told me yes. Some tin fishing weights advertise bismuth in the mix but this company does not. Their claim is tin. What simple experiment can I do to to see in there is bismuth mixed in the tin?

5

Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology / What is the best way to prepare slides of sand?

« on: 18/08/2012 03:06:55 »

What is the best way to prepare a slide when it comes to sand? I'm trying to take the shine off of black sand when I view it at 100x. That shine can cause black sand to appear metallic.  I have tried is dry and wet but the shine is still there. Wet helps some but not completely. Any ideas would be helpful.

edit: Is there some sort of dye I can add to make sand show without a shine unless it is metallic?

6

Chemistry / Need help with a strange mineral

« on: 29/07/2012 05:43:35 »

I am involved with gravity separation of mineral ores. I recently tested a new ore that has a strange mineral in it. It looks like a golden tented sand. It is not metallic. Tho odd thing is that it appears to have a higher specific gravity than gold. I sent some off for XRF assay and the results came back as Zircon. This can't be right. I have encountered Zircon before so I know from experience that Zircon isn't that dense and the color has more of a green look. I will admit that Zircon and the stuff in question both have a certain luster. The only problem is the density of this material. Anyone here have any ideas on how to further test this material?