First metal extracted from gathered ore !

Collected "rocks" in the landscape
 to
metal in the hand  !!

Steps along the way included "rod-mill" and "shaking-table" already seen here.

Used cupellation [Wikipedia]. Flux and smelted metal cast into cone mould - hence shapes seen.

Flux and lead solidified and knocked out of cone mould

Flux / slag knocked off revealing the lead ingot...

Top view of lead ingot

Underside view of lead ingot

Stats. and rough calculations...
We calculate on the basis that the concentrate is 100% galena (PbS) - in reality it must have some impurities

• cupelled 100g of galena concentrate
• by molar masses that would give 87g of lead
• lead ingot weighs 57g
• 57g is 66% of 87g - ie extraction efficiency calculates at 66%

Cupelling was chosen because it is quite "clean" - no fume, with impurities trapped in slag and the cupel.

This is totally brilliant! We look to our various future plans with boosted confidence.

(R. Smith, 24Jun2025)