My Gold Ingot Journey (Part 2)

posted by : NGDlover

Do you know that genuine gold ingot if it fall down to the floor tiles will make sound like .....( tengg ).... neither ... (buuug) nor other sound ?

Do you know that the genuine gold bars will smell good fragrance ? a unique typical smell belonging to the gold only.

Do you know that if you beat on genuine gold bar, it will not broke ? it will continues to widen.

Do you know that you will loose much weight of your gold if you want to purify it ? because your gold must first burned at high temperatures till it melt.

This story is part 2 of My Gold Ingot Journey. Yesterday after we were told to back home and not bringing fake gold bars any longer, then we go back home and get in lost of desire to continue our journey.

But such opportunity to go to that area appeared after years, that’s after I have a friend name Andy. He had a gold bar that is not 24 Carat and willing to purify it. He asked whether I could accompany him to go to Pongkor area. He did not want to go to other place because he did not trust yet. I said I'm OK and we planned to go tomorrow.

At the day when we were on the way , I just know that Andy and his friends have connection with gold ingots buyers at high levels that frequently sell gold to Singapore, Hong Kong, and even directly to the USA or Europe. I dont have any idea that such an information will took me to another gold ingot stories which I will write in another article, not in here.

Along the way to go there, after we left the town and come to the country road, I noticed many villagers saving soil in used sacks of cement or rice. At the beginning, I dont have idea about why they do like that, soon my friend explained that the sack is containing soil gold ore. The Villager save it for sale. One bag price about Rp.100, 000 to Rp.200, 000 or equal with about U.S. $ 10 to U.S. $ 20.

Also I noticed many luxury brand new car in and out of that area. Some of them are official of PT.ANTAM while the others are private buyers. The private buyers hired local villagers to become a miner, and they also prepared the equipment needed by the miners. Gold miners then selling they gold to the buyer who hiring them.

Our cars stopped at one of the villagers house. In front of the house appear a standard of equipment usually own by the gold seller. After explaining the purpose of our arrival, Andy took out his gold bar and give it to Asep, the name of the household.

This Gold ingot measured first to calculate its Carat. Apparently, it was not exactly one kilogram but 995 grams, 10 grams different from the statements on the surface of the gold bar. Afterward, a gas stove designed for the purpose of melting down the gold was being turn on. This stove lit continues until it reaches a sufficient heat to melt gold. Later on,the gold was put in a container or pan. From above of the gold, a welding fire was sprayed against the gold. So now the heat come from two sides, below from stoven and above from welding.

Apparently, the gold bar were somewhat thick and hard to become liquid. Mr. Asep was advised us to move to his neighbor which was a car repair workshop but has welding equipment too. Our Gold which was not an ingot anymore, put into a bowl made from coconut shell then it brought into his neighbor workshop which just three houses away. After a short explanation, mr. Asep has wellcame to using his equipment and began burning. Now the gold melting quickly.

Black and white colors (other than yellowish red owned by gold) appeared. That was other metal mixed into pure gold to get the desired carat. It means, this gold is not a pure gold eventhough wrotten on top of gold ingots 999.99 pure gold surface. This dirt sprayed by welding from top until no residual left.

It looks just the gold itself was still left. Of course the weight was significantly reduced. After the gold cooled down, the gold was weighed again. At the beginning, the weight is almost a kilo, now living just about 900 grams. The gold later sold to Mr. Asep and priced near the international price with reduced by some operational costs. I dont have any idea about why Andy sold his gold after purify it, then the money result divided among us.

After finishing this transaction, we took a rest and smoke. Some cup of coffee come out with its good smell fragrant and accompanied by cakes, what a learnfull day..! Its always an excitement to finish the business. NGDlover archives

Next : My Gold Ingot Journey 3, its about international buyer though I dont promised you when it will published :)), c u all ....