[SteveE]

Hello Everyone

Years ago I was a gold nugget prospector in Arizona and Nevada. I found a lot of gold back in those days.

I still have a gold in Calcite specimen I'd like to extract the gold from since the spot price is so high.

It's a 3 ounce Calcite specimen containing 1 ounce of gold. Could someone please tell me how much HCL  acid it would require to dissolve the remaining 2 ounces of Calcite? I don't want to buy any more acid than I need to.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks

[SteveE]

Also, I would be using 37% HCL acid which is readily available in hardware stores.

[Borek]

I strongly doubt you will be able to buy just enough acid, most bottles I have ever seen contain several times more than you need.

[AWK]

If it is actually calcite, then about 15 ml of 4-5% vinegar per gram of calcite will suffice.

[SteveE]

If it is actually calcite, then about 15 ml of 4-5% vinegar per gram of calcite will suffice.

I tried dissolving it in vinegar but takes too long. That's why I wanted to know how much 37% hydrochloric acid it would take. Should work faster.

[AWK]

You may boil the solution.

[SteveE]

Thanks. I'll try that.

[AWK]

The gold in ores is often accompanied by barite and quartz. Hydrochloric acid will not dissolve these minerals. Then the only solution is to dissolve the gold and precipitate it by reduction.

[SteveE]

You mean dissolving in aqua regia? If so, what would you use to precipitate the gold out with?

[AWK]

Zinc dust.