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Fakes & FraudsSilver Mercury alloys
12th Jul 2011 01:25 UTCReiner Mielke Expert
12th Jul 2011 15:12 UTCDavid Von Bargen Manager
I believe there was some luck making them electrochemically.
12th Jul 2011 18:27 UTCJim Daly
12th Jul 2011 18:34 UTCReiner Mielke Expert
If you added mercury to silver which has a crystalline structure ( such as a silver leaf or crystal) surely the mercury would not destroy that but rather just bond to the existing structure?
12th Jul 2011 18:46 UTCEvan Johnson
The way I see it, the mercury would either have to adsorb onto the surface, or dissolve into the crystal. Mercury is a pretty big atom (so big, in fact, that it has aurophilic chemical behaviour- to what extent that plays a role in this story I have no idea, with self-affinity versus affinity toward silver). But it would seem strange to me if the lattice of a native metal was preserved upon adding liquid mercury(at least beyond a threshold).
EMJ
29th Aug 2011 23:51 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager
30th Aug 2011 00:41 UTCReiner Mielke Expert
30th Aug 2011 00:58 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager
30th Aug 2011 01:50 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager
30th Aug 2011 02:47 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager
30th Aug 2011 11:18 UTCRiccardo Modanesi
Greetings from Italy by Riccardo.
30th Aug 2011 22:33 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager
The natural gold silver alloys break into three groups: nearly pure Au, around 80% Au, and around 60% Au (electrum). Sadly geology has little to do with mineral nomenclature so these alloys are just called Gold.
5th Jul 2012 21:22 UTCNelse Miller
5th Jul 2012 21:52 UTCTravis Olds Expert
http://www.ias.ac.in/j_archive/proca/61/5/301-307/viewpage.html
Or if the link doesn't work, Google the "Effect of heat on the structure of single crystals of silver amalgam." Should be the first hit. Then scroll down to May 1965 to find it.
Edit. They studied three phases, alpha, beta, and gamma. They suggest a formula of Ag3Hg4 for the gamma phase.
6th Jul 2012 00:52 UTCBart Cannon
My interest in dental amalgams began twenty five years ago as a result of using a pocket "TENS" unit designed by Steve Satra.
I can't remember what "TENS" means, but it produces a small shock that stimulates endorphin production. They can be used on any part of the body that is producing pain, but I clipped the electrodes on each ear lobe to relieve the frequent headaches I ounce suffered from. I haven't had a headache since about the time bought the TENS unit.
Anyway, when I cranked up the amplitude on the unit, I noticed that I could easily detect a metallic taste in my mouth, and surmised that metals were heading away from my my fillings.
Dental amalgam contains silver, mercury copper, and TIN.
At about the same time Jack lost a filling and I made a polished section of it and a video BSE movie of the analysis and showed it at a little mineral bourse South of Vancouver. That is how Rob knows about this since he was present and viewed the movie.
The interesting finding was that the filling showed voids which contained beautiful crystals of a tin chloride, suggesting dissolution and re-distribution of metal.
I am not a health alarmist and I would not dream of having my fantastic mercury amalgam fillings removed and replaced. The main reason being that copper in dental amalgams is a bacteriacide which slows the deterioration along the margins of the fillings. The modern epoxy fillings don't have that benefit and they are more expensive.
Plus the exposure to mercury during a filling removal would require a HazMat team if the regulations were followed. Luckily they aren't
I remember being told 40 years ago that my fillings would need to be replaced within 10 years. I still have all my fillings and all of my teeth.
Bart
6th Jul 2012 01:16 UTCReiner Mielke Expert
6th Jul 2012 01:37 UTCBart Cannon
This should probably be a private e-mail, but I have a bit to vent about dentists which kind of relates to amalgam.
The strength factor was the theory that was presented to me by my dentist for my last filling a year ago.
But there is still a porous margin between the epoxy and the tooth. I'll report back when that tooth fails.
I went with that advice, but I have quite a few horror stories about dentists. Five years ago my dentist told me I needed to have a molar pulled.
I still have the molar, and have so far been spared the $4,000 to have the replica installed. The original is perfect unlike the simulation would be.
Maybe my amalgam filled teeth are weak, but I've still got all those teeth filled sometime near the end of the Eisenhower administration, as well as those few filled during the Clinton administration
A dentist thinks his job is to grind out a cavity until all you have left is an eggshell of your tooth.
I think teeth and bone are minerals. Bone is hydroxylapatite. I don't know what mineral a tooth is similar to.
Bart
6th Jul 2012 01:55 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager
6th Jul 2012 22:14 UTCDr. Paul Bordovsky
with knowledge of the game.
> A dentist thinks his job is to grind out a cavity
> until all you have left is an eggshell of your
> tooth.
8th Aug 2012 21:01 UTCTim Jokela Jr
Love the story of tin chloride xls in a filling.
Mineralogy is endlessly amusing!
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Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: March 29, 2024 06:15:58