:::::::::::MERCURY=A TOOL OF THE PROSPECTOR::::::::::::

Hi all just thought i would post this for all who want to know;It is a collection of my research to help others with a little more knowledge....
It is only a small amount of information i have so far put into text,and coming from many different resources..
It isn't complete but a work in progress..It has been used throughout the ages and is an excellent tool and is still in widespread use today...
as many long time prospectors would know and more than likely used::

...............................................MERCURY ( A Prospectors Aid and a Prospectors Nightmare ).....................................................



......................................( It has been termed as the "Jekyll and Hyde" of prospectors passed… ).............................................

You may be asking yourself;
 What is it ?
 Where does it come from ?
 What benefits does it have ?
 What risks come with its use ?
 What are its properties ?

( Well for some answers on these questions and for a better understanding please read on )

( What and Where ? )
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Mercury occurs in deposits throughout the world and it is harmless in an insoluble form, such as mercuric sulfide, but it is ( poisonous ) in soluble forms such as mercuric chloride or methylmercury…..

It is not usually found free in nature and is primarily obtained from the mineral cinnabar (HgS). Spain and Italy produce around half of the world's supply of Mercury…..

Cinnabar is generally found in a massive, granular or earthy form and is bright scarlet to brick-red in color. It occasionally occurs, however, in crystals with a non-metallic adamantine luster…..

Mercury sulfide, mercuric sulfide, or mercury(II) sulfide is a chemical compound composed of the chemical elements mercury and sulfur. It is represented by the chemical formula HgS. It is virtually insoluble in water. HgS is dimorphic with two crystal forms…..

* red cinnabar (α-HgS), is the form in which mercury is most commonly found in nature.
* black, metacinnabar (β-HgS), is less common in nature and adopts the wurtzite crystal structure…..
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( Benefits to Prospecting )
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Although you could say that it could and probably should be avoided, here is just an example of its uses:
Mercury has been used in (Gold Pans and in Sluicing) for (Amalgamation Processes) throughout Gold Prospecting History and is still in use today for Gold Prospecting and Mining purposes.
Its advantages have been proven to be extremely useful to prospectors and miners in that it is extremely
helpful for the recovery and seperation of very fine and often rich particles of Gold often known as (flour).
and in instances where black sand deposits are (extremely rich) with Gold deposits…..
It is recognised for its intense affinity for not only Gold but also Copper and Silver,when it does make contact with clean gold particles etc it's tendency is to chemically bond these fine pieces of gold together and to form clusters or clumps as such.Amalgam is the correct name for this chemical bonding/clump forming and when all particles of the gold come together it is known as Amalgamation…So as for the panning side of things prospectors coat their pans with mercury and throughout the panning process of sloughing the unwanted material from the pan,during the last stage of panning which contains the heavies (black-sands) all of the fine gold particles and flour have been combining in this state to form an Amalgamation of the fine gold and hence the outcome of (no loss of the valuable contents) and this has been a proven and validated process for a lot higher productivity than other means……
The same basic principle is used with Sluicing,as to coating the riffles and different types of matting used to trap the Gold.

( The Downside )????? Yes there is and many...
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Mercury will change Golds appearance and it definitely ruins its natural appearance and beauty::
Mercury if used in the processes above with Gold leaves yet another process to be undertaken (Refining)::
Mercury is able to be refined by the prospector through a process known as (Retorting)::
Mercury has the (( potential )) to be very dangerous and life threatening to ALL LIVING THINGS::(NOT JUST HUMANS)
More information on this later!!………………………
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( Properties )
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Mercury is classed as a dense and heavy metal..
Mercury has a (SG)specific gravity of 13.546 at 20 degrees C
Mercury weighs 846 pounds per cubic foot ; which is 70% less than Gold
Mercury is the only Metal of which is a liquid at ordinary temperatures
Mercury becomes a solid Metal at temperatures below 4.44444444 degrees C and melts as this temperature rises it melts into its silvery-white appearance most of us know it as…..
Mercury can and does "Vapourize" at Room Temperatures and therefore unleashes its [ Nasty Properties ]…………………………………….
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(THE RISKS TO PROSPECTORS AND ANYTHING OR ANYONE AROUND)…….. (((( NATURE,HUMANS,ANIMALS ))))
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Since that now we know that MERCURY can and does vaporise at room temperature we can all understand the Importance of the
possible implications of its negligent storage and use……
Even the smallest amounts of Mercury Vaporisation can have serious effects on you and any one or living thing near you……
Inhaling Even Very Small Amounts Of Mercury Fumes And Absorbing Metallic Mercury Through The Skin Or Mucous Membranes Can Result In Erethism (An Abnormal State Of Excitement, Irritability, Fatigue And Headache), Tremor, Sali- Vation, And Serious Corrosive Damage To Mucous Membranes Of Nose, Mouth And Throat, And To Lung Tissues. Just A Bit More Exposure Can Add Loss Of Teeth And Grave Damage To Your Gastrointestinal Tract And Central Nervous System. This Level Of Absorption Also Threatens You With Pneumonitis, Bronchitis, Severe Chest Pains And Dyspnea (An Unpleasant Form Of Breathing Difficulties).
THERE IS NO KNOWN AND PROVEN TREATMENT TO REVERSE THE LIFELONG DAMAGE THIS CAUSES TO ANYONE THAT IS EXPOSED TO EXTENDED OR MULTIPLE EXPOSURES:::
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as i mentioned at the start it is unfinished and i will try to finish when i can but im a two finger typer and actually slow at it but i hope
some of you find it an interesting read,and from that for those who dont know a lot about it maybe something learned.....................
at the present time im researching the deaths that have happened with and from its use over the last hundred plus years and the amount
of Old Timers that it has and did effect....anyway i have said enough for now...............
cheers to you all and be safe...........................Trev....
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