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How to Convert Placer Gold to Ingot

Since the beginning of recorded history, gold has been a highly valued precious metal. To produce gold ingot, solid gold is heated to its molten state and poured into a mold and left to cool. With the right preparation, and a few tools, you can take placer gold in the form of gold nuggets, gold flakes and gold dust and transform it into ingot. Ingot molds come in specific weights, measured in troy ounces, the official measure for gold weight.

Things You'll Need

Heat resistant gloves
Placer gold
Ceramic crucible
Propane torch
Ingot mold
Bucket filled with water (optional)
Soft cloth

Instructions

- 1
  Make sure gold is clean of surface dirt. Put on gloves, and place gold in the crucible. Verify that the crucible has enough volume to hold the melted gold.
- 2
  Heat the ceramic crucible with a propane torch. Be patient: Gold's melting point is 1,063 degrees Celsius, or 1,945.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 3
  While tightly holding onto the crucible's handle, pour molten gold through the spout of the crucible into the ingot mold.
- 4
  Allow it to cool. To expedite cooling, you can drop the mold into a bucket of water. Use extreme caution if you complete this optional step; dropping the mold into the water will result in a great deal of steam.
- 5
  Remove the gold from the ingot mold. Wipe it off with a soft cloth. Proceed with caution during this step just in case the bar has yet to completely solidify.

Rocks & Minerals