Chinese Scientists Turn Copper Into 'Gold'?

[singular_me]

This is no good news for PMs, expect prices to go down --and maybe for good this time. Unless this copper experiment is a joke of course.


Breakthrough: Chinese Scientists Turn Copper Into 'Gold' (dec 2018)
A team of Chinese researchers from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Liaoning, has transformed copper into a new material “almost identical” to gold, according to a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances, and first reported by the South China Morning Post on Saturday....... The research paper notes that the new material based on copper can replace gold and silver in the manufacturing process of electronic devices, which requires significant amounts of precious metals....... However, the new material would revolutionize industries with readily available and inexpensive raw materials, adding to the deflationary pressures...........
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-12-23/breakthrough-chinese-scientists-turn-copper-gold?fbclid=IwAR2OlKefHYz65nmjZMnRuin-ETlWfrEqAJg0g0ey2_8jHtsYyiqu5wLYg7I

China Morning Post | 22 December, 2018, Chinese scientists turn copper into ‘gold’
Process in which copper is blasted with argon gas creates particles with similar properties to gold
The new material cannot be turned into fake gold coins but could reduce use of precious metals in manufacturing
Precious metals remain central to modern economies. The components of electronic devices, for instance, contain a large amount of gold, silver and platinum......... About 40 smartphones can contain as much gold as a tonne of ore, it has been estimated.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/2179209/chinese-scientists-turn-copper-gold

[woodman]

Into gold, sure. Still waiting for that cold fusion from the 80's to pan out.

[mamboni]

Industrial gold demand is a tiny portion of total gold demand - this will not effect the price of monetary gold. In any event, we don't know what is the cost to produce "almost gold" from copper - if the cost is low it might put a dent in silver demand as industrial demand is about 40% of total silver demand and ~100% of silver consumption. This might be a version of Professor Pepperwinkle's Gold Making machine from the old Superman TV show: the problem then was that the key ingredient was an equal weight of platinum (which historically usually costs more than gold)! Presently, platinum is selling at at 37% discount to gold, which historically is so rare an event that it might be unprecedented. Platinum appears to be a screaming bargain presently, more so than even silver:

https://www.kitco.com/commentaries/2017-02-07/The-46-Year-Record-of-Platinum-Gold-Ratios.html

Of note, this Superman episode illustrates how far the dollar has been devalued since the 1950s when $35 bought an ounce of gold. The $5000 gold ingot depicted in the episode would be worth $181,000 in today's hyperinflated fiat dollars!


Superman TV series
Series Finale:
Episode 104 — All That Glitters
Professor Pepperwinkle discovers a way to make gold out of ordinary materials. Two criminals learn of the invention and want to force him into making them rich.The Professor tells Lois and Jimmy about the plot and how he’s set up a trap for the thugs. Jimmy is accidentally hit on the head by the trap and, when he comes to, the Professor tells them he’s also invented pills that will give super powers to regular humans. Lois and Jimmy take the pills, track down the villains, and knock them out.The super-reporters fly back to the professor’s lab, just as he’s reset his trap and Jimmy is hit again. Unfortunately, it turns out that the superpills were all part of Jimmy’s dream. The criminals return to Pepperwinkle’s lab and are not please to learn that the gold transformation also requires a bar of expensive platinum. In the end, it costs $10,000 worth of platinum to make $5,000 worth of gold.
Angry, they tie Lois, Jimmy, and the Professor to his invention and set a bomb. Fortunately, Superman arrives in time to save the day.
Back in Perry White’s office, Jimmy describes his dream and tells Clark, “Golly, Mr. Kent, you’ll never know what it’s like to be like Superman” Clark replies, “No, Jimmy, I guess I never will.”
First aired: April 28, 1958.

[Horn]

While "almost identical" to gold, really just an excuse to replace where it is used in manuf. process.

I see millions of open ended U.S. importer lawsuits.

Ps. Be sure to stackup on micro-usb connectors.

[steyr_m]

"copper is blasted with argon gas" Seems to simple. Think someone would have tried that one already. If true, looks only for plating in the manu. process.

[End Times]

Into gold, sure. Still waiting for that cold fusion from the 80's to pan out.

They didn't "turn" shit.

They created copper nanoparticles, which have fascinating properties beyond both natural copper and gold. An achievement in itself, but nothing like "turning copper into gold."

[mamboni]

They didn't "turn" shit.

They created copper nanoparticles, which have fascinating properties beyond both natural copper and gold. An achievement in itself, but nothing like "turning copper into gold."
Exactly. I read many reports of gold and other elements being created "on a microscopic scale" through atomic bombardment with neutrons and light elements - this is nothing new. However, I'm not aware of anyone transmuting elements on a macro industrial scale and done economically. These experiments are incredibly energy intensive and expensive. I doubt that it will ever be cheaper to make gold via transmutation versus mining.

Wasn't graphene supposed to render silver obsolete? That story died on the vine.

[Horn]

"Revolutionize Industry" like those plethora of latenight nonstick frying pan commercials that everyone runs away back to stainless from.

You'll find within 4 months time that your cellphone needs replacement because nanoparticles dissolved into your fingernail jam.

[steyr_m]

Wasn't graphene supposed to render silver obsolete? That story died on the vine.

Yep, same as with the post talking about cold fusion..... I'll continue to stack when i can.

[madfranks]

Turning copper into "gold" isn't the same thing as turning copper into gold.

[singular_me]

if the gold replica looks really great, while having many gold properties, I am thinking that in our "money making environment", we really could see a new market emerging. Just like synthetic diamonds. Most gold is sold for jewelry so, yes it could affect the gold market in a few years from now... unless it is fake news.

((they)) thrive on the destruction of value and could push for anything

[osoab]

Wasn't graphene supposed to render silver obsolete? That story died on the vine.

Much like the price of wilver.