Product Description:
CURRENTLY ON BACK ORDER.

We encourage all miners to try to move toward mechanical extraction of gold and avoid using mercury whenever possible.

However, we understand it is still in use and we feel using a retort reduces the risk of mercury of escaping into the atmosphere.

The purpose of a mercury retort is to separate the gold from the mercury components of the gold amalgam. By applying heat to the amalgam, the mercury is burnt off as a gas, which passes along the pipe to re-condense as a liquid. The gold remains in the distilling chamber of the retort, while the mercury is collected at the discharge end in liquid form. This process allows you to reclaim and reuse the mercury.

NOTICE: MERCURY IS A HIGHLY DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE AND WE DO NOT ENCOURAGE IT'S USE. READ SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND LEARN HOW TO USE IT BEFORE ATTEMPTING. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. WE ACCEPT NO LIABILITY FOR MISUSE

SHIP WEIGHT IS APPROX. 6 LBS.

What is a retort?

A retort is a simple device used to capture invisible mercury vapors and turn them back into liquid mercury. This mercury can be reactivated and reused, or it can be safely stored or disposed of according to proper protocol.

Retorts can help prevent breathing the dangerous mercury vapours, but they are not perfect and do not collect 100% of the mercury.

Key message: Even the best field retort will let some vapor escape (typically 5-20%). If not used properly, retorts will not protect the user and may even increase exposure. If retorts are operated or stored indoors (such as a house or car), or people are very close to them when they are operated, exposures can increase.

Retorts DO’s and DON’Ts

- DO use a retort outdoors to avoid vapors depositing on indoor surfaces.
-DO use the retort far away and downwind from residences.
-DO store the retort it in a dedicated place - outside the house, and away from women and children.
-A retort MUST NOT be used by women or children.
-DO NOT store a retort and the clothes of the user indoors
-DO NOT open a retort before it is completely cool to the touch, or mercury vapor will escape. Note: there will always be some mercury vapor that escapes when a retort is opened but these will be minimized by cooling the retort.

Mercury should never be used by or near women of child bearing age, pregnant women, or children.

Mercury should be stored in a solid bottle or jar with a tight fitting lid and a layer of water on top. This will help prevent vapours from escaping. It should be clearly marked as Mercury and as Toxic and should be stored on a solid surface like concrete in a secure location unreachable by children.

Wear gloves when handling mercury or amalgam or even when stirring it manually with a stick.

If you can find an activated charcoal respirator, use it! It is the only one that works to prevent you from breathing mercury vapours.

Dust masks and fabric do not stop you from breathing mercury just as they do not stop you from breathing air.