Collected "rocks" in the landscape
to
metal in the hand !!
Steps along the way included "rod-mill" and "shaking-table" already seen here.
Used the first stage of "fire assay" for precious metals - the
"flux-iron" method for sulphide ores.
"Crucible flux-iron smelting" indeed proved "clean" - no fume, with
all discarded ore content trapped in slag. Lead-smelting was
notoriously noxious and we confronted that issue in every other
approach we then visualised.
Uneconomic for "base" metals like lead (Pb), we got a "maiden voyage";
a good place from which to look forward.
There are so many good resources on the Internet on "fire-assay".
I'd commend videos on "YouTube" by
Mt. Baker Mining and Metals
on "gold smelting" and "fire assay".
Seen in these and other online resources are the characteristic thing, the cone-mould. Flux and smelted metal cast into the 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
This is totally brilliant! We look to our various future plans with boosted confidence.
(R. Smith, 24Jun2025, 21Nov2025 (not f.a. - cruc.flux), 29Nov2025
(flux/Fe, eds.))