Minegraveyard

Amalgam Barrels

Not too many gold miners use them these days, although they are an effective way of removing gold from ore with the aid of mercury. Generally, a batched process which is to say that gold ore and mercury are locked inside the barrel and rolled for a period of time to allow the mercury to absorb the gold.

Things to look for when purchasing a second-hand amalgam barrel are that the drive mechanism is serviceable if the drum is lined and it is not peeling away from the barrel. Use caution that there is no old mercury left in the barrels as it is a highly toxic material