Refining 14/20 Gold-Filled scrap

Jewelry Discussion
1

I recently sent in some clean 14/20 gold-filled scrap, mostly partial
rings and coil ends from cutting jump rings and messed up wire from
wire wrapping. The refiner reported that it only contained 41% of the
gold that I expected from math calculation. I expected a result of
something less than 100% of the math, but is 41% reasonable?

Cheers.
John Fetvedt
www.bijoux-de-terre.com

2 
I recently sent in some clean 14/20 gold-filled scrap, mostly
partial rings and coil ends from cutting jump rings and messed up
wire from wire wrapping. The refiner reported that it only
contained 41% of the gold that I expected from math calculation. I
expected a result of something less than 100% of the math, but is
41% reasonable?

First thing would be to check whether your math is based on the
right numbers. For example, did you take the ratio of gold to base
metal in the gold filled (marked things like 1/20th as a weight
ratio, or a percentage of thickness? Did you allow for the fact that
the portion stated as gold in that ratio is itself karat gold, not a
measure of it’s fine gold content?

If your math is based on the correct assumptions, the metal you sent
all the quality you stated, and the refiner really only found 41
percent of the metal you had, then that would be more of a refining
loss than is normal. But I’ll bet there’s some aspect of your
calculations that you’ve missed…

Cheers
Peter Rowe

3

You better have a lot because gold filled is usually 1/20th 14kt,
which means less than 5% of the weight is gold.

T’aint much.

David Geller
www.JewelerProfit.com

4

first, was your gf double clad or single clad? was it 14kt? If so,
you may have screwed up there.you have to realize the GF is starting
off at only 1-5% fine gold. 14kt is 58.33% fine gold. So given the
karat, you then have to determine the amount of gold bonded to the
base metal ( generally 1-5%) then do the math based on the weight of
the lot you submitted to find the approximate amount of fine gold
you sent in to your refinery. Some give you 100% of market, some
less. some charge an assay fee and other fees you may not have
realized, but if they are only paying 41% of market, then the error
is I’m afraid in your preliminary research as to what portion of
market they pay out…In general 41% of what you thought sounds
reasonable if you did not account for the initial 58.3 % gold content
to start your equasion…rer

5

OK, since several people have questioned my math, here it is.

12.94 OZT gross - 1.35 OZT tare = 11.59 OZT net
divide by 20 for 14/20 gf = 0.58 OZT 15 Kt. Gold
divide by 0.582 for 14 Kt. = 0.34 OZT gold
yield reported by refiner - 0.13 OZT gold
actual recovery = 38%

Cheers.
John Fetvedt
www.bijoux-de-terre.com