AboutThomas Expertise Have a question about jewelry repair or working with gold or silver jewelry and gemstones? I am a working professional bench jeweler, involved everyday with setting stones in mountings, designing and making jewelry, repairing and some custom manufacture. Over 30 years experience. If you work with jewelry as a hobby or as a profession, I might be able to help. I deal with the retail business, not mass production. Ask privately if you wish. See the box for that: It keeps your question between us. Please DO NOT ask MAKER'S MARKS, but metal quality marks are fine to ask. Please DO NOT ask diamond prices. See a gemologist for that.
Experience Education is English/Physics!Started in human resources, to advertising, to jewelry...wow, what a road. Now a jeweler for many years. I have had formal training in jewelry work and many shared experiences with top grade jewelers. We just never know were we will go or be. Follow your best, your dreams, with some discretion!
Expert: Thomas Date: 5/10/2008 Subject: mercury on gold...cleaning of
Question How am I to get the mercury off my customers gold ring? File it off? Then my
file is contaminated...also sandpaper, felt wheel, etc. How would I dispose of
filings? I am an experienced goldsmith, but not with this issue. Thanks!!!
Answer Alison, none of us are really familiar with the issue of mercury on gold. And far fewer know how to do it safely and without contamination shop essentials and metals.
I will answer your question in one way first: If you can keep from doing this job, go for it. Mercury removal is potentially dangerous.
The other answer is heat. You see, that is exactly what gold miners used years ago to get their gold. Mercury was used to gather the gold dust and particles and this forms what is called an amalgam. Then they would take the mass of stuff and put it into a fine burlap bag and twist and squeeze out as much mercury as possible. The next step was to take what was left and heat it. Mercury forms a vapor and goes into the air at a rather low temperature.
They would try to contain the mercury by using something like a moonshiners still, heating the amalgam and with pipes to let the mercury condense and be salvaged.
Read this:
This is the boiling temp of mercury 356.73 °C or 674.11 °F
"Mercury and most of its compounds are extremely toxic and are generally handled with care; in cases of spills involving mercury (such as from certain thermometers or fluorescent light bulbs) specific cleaning procedures are used to avoid toxic exposure.[34] It can be inhaled and absorbed through the skin and mucous membranes, so containers of mercury are securely sealed to avoid spills and evaporation. Heating of mercury, or compounds of mercury that may decompose when heated, is always carried out with adequate ventilation in order to avoid exposure to mercury vapor. The most toxic forms of mercury are its organic compounds, such as dimethylmercury and methylmercury. Mercury can cause both chronic and acute poisoning."
The solution to start is to heat the ring above 675 degrees F. I will refuse to do this and if done should be done outdoors with plenty of ventilation. Released in the shop, the mercury will simply condense and settle where it may all about the shop. I imagine in buffing some mercury vapor is released and buffing is not a final answer since some will remain in the gold even if not seen.
I recommend against even trying to remove mercury. An old jeweler I knew would routinely take a ring with mercury on the gold and heat it at his bench. I refused to be in the room. I really don't know how much of the stuff was in the shop but it was there and was going to stay there.
Sorry, I cannot give you an easy way to remove mercury from gold. I have written what I know about it. Perhaps there is some chemical means but if so, I am not aware of it.
Alison, use the follow-up option if needed to get back to me on this question. I should be here most evenings.
