How to Break Down a Gold Bar

Mechanically Breakdown

• 1

  Pound the gold bar as flat as necessary to cut with metal shears. Typically, this will be a thickness of less than 1 mm.

• 2

  Cut the gold sheet with metal shears to the desired size based on how the gold needs to be apportioned.

• 3

  Collect any gold fragments that may have come off in the process. These fragments still have value, especially in quantity.

Dissolution Breakdown

• 4

  Prepare a solution of aqua regia by mixing one part nitric acid with three parts hydrochloric acid. Use caution and complete this process in a well-ventilated area, as acid will burn exposed skin and the mixture will give off noxious fumes.

• 5

  Place gold bar in aqua regia mixture. Caution, the reaction will give off noxious fumes.

• 6

  Stir the mixture until the gold is dissolved.

• 7

  Precipitate the gold out of solution by mixing in ferrous sulfate. Ferrous sulfate is a crystalline iron salt that is fairly common and inexpensive to buy. Precipitation is when a soluble salt is added to a solution to exchange ions or charges to allow a different salt or metal to drop out of the solution. In this case, a cloud of gold precipitate will form in the solution upon the addition of the ferrous sulfate. The resulting gold can then be filtered and apportioned as desired.

Melting Breakdown

• 8

  Place the gold bar in a ceramic crucible.

• 9

  Heat the crucible with an acetylene torch until the gold melts. The melting point of gold is around 1,950 degrees Fahrenheit, so this may take some time. The crucible needs to be secured in a way that keeps it stable and safe from combustibles. A steel o-ring stand or tripod are examples of suitable options.

• 10

  Pour molten gold into the desired number of containers to meet the desired level of apportionment. Allow it to cool before handling.