As we have noted before on this blog, gold has unique properties like malleability. But here’s a surprising one. Even though gold is extremely resistant to tarnish and oxidation, it can still be combined with other chemicals to form compounds. Some, but not all, of those compounds are used in testing procedures and industrial processes. Today’s post will give you a list of what those compounds are.
Read MoreWhether you go hunting for precious metals in open fields or at estate sales, a small digital camera belongs in your toolbox. Your shots can help you keep track of discoveries that merit further investigation. Plus, the shots you take can help you get a better idea of their value.
Read MoreYes, things are about to change in Great Britain, and possibly in other countries that might also chose to withdraw from the E.U. But before we get too concerned about our English and European cousins, let’s ask an even more important question: Do you have to pay duties on gold that you bring into the U.S. today?
Read MoreIt might be tempting to think that gold cannot be forged. After all, it is so malleable that that banging on it will only make it spread out, not harden. Yet over the centuries, jewelers have developed two techniques that are called “forging” even though they are a lot different from the kind of forging that is used to harden steel...
Read MoreAre rare old books that sell for millions of dollars dripping with gold? To answer that question, let’s consider three of the most expensive books ever sold at auction…
Read MoreIf you do an online search for the term “gold on Mars,” you will find all kinds of videos and articles on the topic. Some of the information you’ll uncover is dry and scientific, but you’ll also find weird conspiracy theories that claim that NASA doesn’t want anybody to know that there are huge veins of Martian gold that are waiting to be claimed by world powers...
Read MoreThe title of today’s post reflects a question that we heard from a caller recently, who asked, “Is white gold worth more than other gold . . . it contains platinum, right, so it should be worth more per ounce than other gold.” The caller’s reasoning is sound, but unfortunately the answer to his question is a bit more complex than he might realize. Here are some facts that clear up the confusion.
Read MoreIf you’ve been watching gold prices over the last month, you’re aware that trading prices have fallen to historical lows. That leads to the obvious conclusion that this is a pretty bad time to sell gold. But here’s a contrarian investment idea to consider. If you have gold that you don’t want to sell now, why not give it to your children?
Read MoreAlthough chances are slight that the lighter will contain a quantity of gold that is worth recycling, a small number of lighters have been made over the years with gold and gold-filled cases that really do contain gold that can be profitably recycled – they’ll pay back your $25.00 investment four or five times over or maybe even more. If not, chances are you can sell the lighter on eBay and get your investment back anyway.
Read MoreBut how much gold is really to be found in the interiors of old theaters? If you get involved in demolishing one or have the opportunity to comb through architectural materials that were salvaged from an old theater, how much gold are you going to be able to reclaim and recycle?
Read MoreIt’s fun to watch clever gold heists happening in movies like “The Italian Job.” It’s fun to read about gold thefts too – as long as the gold that was stolen didn’t belong to you. Here are the stories of three of the most intriguing gold heists in history...
Read MoreCommon wisdom says that medieval alchemists were kooky pseudo-scientists who wasted their time trying to turn base metals into gold. But now it seems that alchemists were not all charlatans or hopeless dreamers. Over the last century, scientists have demonstrated that turning base elements into gold really is possible, and that alchemists could have done it too if they had possessed nuclear reactors. And there are other modern people who call themselves alchemists too, as we recently discovered.
Read MoreHundreds of millions of digital cameras have been sold each year. That means that there are over a billion digital cameras waiting to be traded in or scrapped. That thought led me to research how much money can be made by recycling cameras. Here are answers to questions about camera recycling...
Read MoreGold is beautiful. It conducts electricity. It can be shaped easily. It is bright and shiny, even when found in riverbeds and mines. People are always finding new ways to use it in electrical, aerospace and even medical applications. That’s all true. But there is something else about gold – something that is a bit harder to explain: Gold is mysterious and magical...
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Will you liquidate some of your gold holdings in the coming year? If you do, today’s post will help you understand how much money you can receive for them. Karat ratings are a bit confusing, because they are based on the number 24, not the base number 100 that we use when working with dollars and percentages. Let’s make things simpler by offering these conversions from karat ratings into percentages...
Read MoreThat could explain why over the years, precious metals have been the subject of a lot of conspiracy theories like this one: "Someone out there (a bank, a foreign government, a cartel) is hoarding a huge amount of gold in order to create demand and drive up prices. When the price rises, that evil “someone” will sell off vast reserves of the precious metal and make astronomically high profits." It sounds kind of plausible, right? And its narrative is valid on some level.
Read MoreIf you own an older house, chances are pretty good that a previous owner hid valuables in it. If they did, they intended to retrieve those items one day. However, circumstances often prevent people from doing so – they die, become ill, or grow infirm and cannot remember where they hid items. So if you own an older home, where should you check for hidden items? Here are some places to look.
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