Edge Report post Posted January 31 I was given permission to metal detect in an abandoned mining camp yesterday. Mostly tin cans and broken bottles were dug up but I did find one intact perfume bottle. I started finding where the crucibles from the assessors office were tossed and was hoping to find an intact one when I hit a good target. Wasn't attracted to a magnet, nor was the oxidation and crust rusty at all. Too big to be a coin and weighs exactly 2toz. Put it in acid and vinegar overnight. Tests out .925 silver. Why was it there in a 19th century dump? It's obviously been poured into a crude mold or crucible. Could the crucible have been tossed out with the silver still in it? Normally the crucibles are crushed and reran through the smeltering process because 100% of the mineral content is not poured out, leaving small amounts of precious metals behind. However it got there, this mine produced 250000 ounces of silver in its day. I can now account for two of those ounces. 13 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildwoody Report post Posted January 31 Very interesting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phil Carr Report post Posted February 1 Really cool. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
