Here are some common household items that may hold surprising hidden value:

Silverware and Tableware

This is a good place to start. Many families have silverware sets that have been passed down through generations, or that they received as wedding gifts…and then rarely used. To check if that silverware is made of real silver, look for markings like “Sterling” or “925” (which means 92.5% pure silver). Old tea sets, trays, and candleholders might also be made of silver or silver-plated materials.

Jewelry

Beyond obvious items of value like necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings and pins made of precious metals, check those old watches before throwing them out. Vintage watches sometimes have platinum or gold parts in their mechanisms. And don’t overlook jewelry that’s broken or dull…that tarnished finish may just indicate that it’s real silver!

Dental Work

If you’ve ever had crowns or fillings removed and put them away in a little box somewhere, they could be worth their weight in gold (or silver and palladium)! Dentists often use high-quality metal alloys for dental work, and you can definitely get cash for those precious metals.

Coins

Check your coin jar or old piggy bank! Certain coins, like pre-1965 U.S. dimes, quarters, and half-dollars, contain 90% silver. Rare finds like gold commemorative coins, or coins with accidental variations or mistakes when minted could also be hiding in plain sight.

A great way to cash in on your Spring cleaning treasures is to take them to your local pawnbroker. At Noble Metal Refining, we support the pawnbroker community! Pawnbrokers can learn more about our precious metal refining services HERE

The post Spring Cleaning Treasures: Sweeping Up Profit with Precious Metal from Household Items first appeared on Noble Metal Refining.

Custom and Personalized Jewelry

Nothing says “I love you” like a piece of jewelry that’s been customized just for your loved one whether it’s a necklace, ring, bracelet, or pair of earrings.

True jewelry customization allows you to be involved in the design process from start to finish. Jewelers can work with you to create bespoke pieces that precisely reflect your vision and your loved one’s taste. This process typically begins with a consultation, where you can share your ideas, sketches, or inspirations. The jeweler takes it from there, offering expert advice on specific design elements and then meticulously bringing your vision to life. By opting for custom-designed jewelry, you can ensure that your gift is not only beautiful but also deeply meaningful.

Check out this short video for a closer look at the custom jewelry making process.

Personalization is another avenue you can take to make your gift extra special. The simple addition of personal touches such as engraved initials, a significant date, or a meaningful phrase can make for truly unique Valentine’s gifts.

Gold and silver are popular choices for custom and personalized jewelry due to their durability, malleability, and timeless appeal. But platinum and palladium have plenty of fans as well! Both have a silvery white or “white gold” quality that’s perfect for modern tastes. Platinum is valued for its unique luster and color as well as its durability. Palladium is the lightest and rarest of the precious metals, and is widely used in wedding and engagement rings. All belong to a group known as the “noble metals,” which resist oxidation and corrosion, practical qualities that contribute to their value in the creation of jewelry of timeless durability. …symbolizing love that is both strong and enduring.

Gold and Silver Coins, Bars or Bullion

For a gift that combines investment with sentiment, consider giving precious metal bullion or an engraved coin or bar made from silver or gold. You can have a heartfelt message or a special date engraved on these precious items, making them not only a symbol of love but also a valuable keepsake that can be cherished for years to come.

Gold and silver bullion bars, ingots and coins represent an investment in your future together. It’s a truly precious gift that the recipient can physically see, hold in their hands and store for the future (as opposed to investing via stocks, futures or ETFs). These precious metal products have the potential to rise in value, instead of other gifts that may wear out, go out of style, or collect dust on a shelf! They’re easy to buy as well. In fact, customers of Noble Metal Refining can always receive payment in the form of gold or silver bullion products upon request. It’s a gift that combines the beauty of precious metals with the security of a sound investment. Perfect for that romantic, yet practical, partner!

Artful Creations

If your Valentine has an eye for art, a piece of art crafted from precious metals might be the perfect gift. From delicate gold sculptures to intricate silver engravings, these pieces can be designed to reflect your partner’s tastes and interests, ensuring that your gift is as special as your love for each other.

In today’s expanded online marketplace, jewelers and other independent creators are showcasing their craftsmanship and expertise like never before. We’ve seen everything from personalized “love tokens” to pendants featuring the wearer’s favorite pet. There are also many products for the home that showcase precious metals, from gold leaf artwork to silver keepsake roses. In short, if you can dream it up, chances are you’ll be able to find an artisan who can create your distinctive gift perfectly matched to your one-of-a-kind relationship!

The Timeless Appeal of Precious Metals

Whether you’re looking for a modern gift or drawing inspiration from historical traditions, precious metals offer a timeless appeal that transcends generations. Their beauty, durability, and intrinsic value make them the perfect choice for expressing love and affection on Valentine’s Day.

So, this year, why not break away from the usual roses and chocolates and surprise your loved one with a unique gift made from precious metals? Whether it’s a personalized piece of jewelry, an engraved coin, a custom-made art piece, or even precious metal bullion, these unique Valentine’s gifts are sure to add a special glow to your celebration of love.

Remember, all that glitters is not just gold—but also silver, platinum, and more! Happy Valentine’s Day!

Interested in getting physical gold or silver as payment for your precious scrap metal materials? Noble Metal Refining makes it easy for our customers to receive payment in the form of precious metal bars or bullion. Click Here to Get Started

The post All That Glitters: Unique Valentine’s Gifts Made from Precious Metals first appeared on Noble Metal Refining.

But have you ever wondered about the symbolism of silver, and why this precious metal holds such a special place in winter traditions and Christmas celebrations? We decided to explore the history, symbolism, and role of silver in making the holidays sparkle.

The Silver Sparkle of Winter

Silver’s connection to the holiday season starts with its reflection of winter itself. Its cool, metallic luster mirrors the beauty of snowy hills and ice-covered ponds, evoking a sense of purity, calm, and serenity. These qualities align perfectly with the spirit of the holidays—a time for reflection, peace, and togetherness. 

Silver’s association with winter can also be traced back to historical holiday customs. In Victorian England, Christmas decorations often featured silvered glass ornaments, mirrors, and candleholders, creating a sparkling ambiance in dimly lit rooms.

Silver has played a prominent role in many religious traditions as well. Along with blue and white, silver is one of the traditional colors used to decorate for Hanukkah. In fact, many of the menorahs central to this important Jewish holiday are made of silver. In Christianity, silver is a symbol of salvation, making it a natural choice for Christmas décor and gift-giving.

Silver coins were often given as gifts during the holiday season in times past, symbolizing prosperity and goodwill. In fact, one fun old-world tradition involved adding a silver coin or token to the Christmas pudding. The person who found it was crowned king or queen for the night! This custom is echoed today in the giving of silver-themed jewelry, keepsakes, or even collectible silver coins as thoughtful holiday presents.

Silver in Modern Holiday Decor

The Victorian tradition of incorporating silver-toned decor into the home has evolved into a staple of modern holiday aesthetics. Today, silver is a key element of Christmas decorations. From shimmering garlands and snowflake ornaments to table settings and tree toppers, silver accents bring elegance and shine to holiday homes. Here are just a few of the treasured silver décor traditions we love!

Silver Reflections | Lanterns, candleholders, and other silver surfaces amplify the warm glow of holiday lights, enhancing the festive atmosphere throughout a home. The symbolism of silver is at play here too since silver’s reflective surface is often used as a metaphor for the soul, allowing us to see ourselves honestly and clearly. 

Silver Bells | So popular that they have their own song, “silver bells” are everywhere during the holiday season. From front door wreaths to bell ringers collecting charitable donations outside your favorite stores, silver bells bring a sparkle to our eyes and joy to our ears throughout the month of December.

Trimming the Tree | Although it is not used as widely as it once was, many of us remember tinsel fondly as a prominent feature of our childhood Christmas tree décor. Thin, shiny strands of tinsel reflect the lights on the tree and create a beautiful, wintery effect. Maybe it’s time for a retro resurgence! Another way to replicate the sparkle of winter ice are icicle ornaments and lights, which create a shimmering curtain of icy beauty indoors and out. And of course, silver is a prominent color in much of the garland, ribbon and ornaments we use today to “deck the halls” and wrap the gifts that are so much a part of the season.

Silver as a Gift of Timeless Beauty

Of course, the holidays are a time of gift-giving, and silver holds a special place in the realm of meaningful presents. Silver jewelry, personalized keepsakes, and even refined silver bars or coins make for timeless gifts that blend beauty with value.

Traditionally associated with wealth, modernity, and glamour, the appeal of silver gifts never seems to fade. In jewelry, silver brings the wearer a look that is sleek, sophisticated and versatile. If you’re buying a gift of silver for someone during the holidays (or anytime), it’s smart to understand how to identify SILVER’S VALUE at a jewelry store or other retailer. In the U.S., only jewelry that is at least 92.5% pure silver can be called or labeled “silver,” “sterling silver” or “sterling.” Sterling silver jewelry may also be marked with a 925, .925, 92.5 or “Ster” on the inside of the jewelry piece. Unlike other gifts that may lose their luster over time, silver’s durability ensures it can be treasured for years to come. 

A Sustainable Christmas

For those interested in sustainability, silver’s recyclability is a bonus. Many jewelers and artisans use recycled silver to create stunning holiday pieces, offering an eco-friendly way to celebrate the season. Talk to your jeweler about the possibility of converting your old silver items into new treasures to reduce waste while creating something uniquely meaningful. If you’re looking for cash to spend on holiday gifts for your friends and family, consider taking unused silver items like old silverware sets or candlesticks to your local pawnbroker. Jewelers and pawnbrokers may re-use the silver or send it to a refiner like Noble Metal to have it recycled, giving the metal new life in the marketplace and reducing the need for mining of this precious metal.

Bring the Symbolism of Silver into Your Holiday

Silver’s enduring connection to Christmas, Hanukkah and other winter traditions goes beyond its beauty. It embodies the essence of the season—purity, hope, and the sparkle of joyful celebration. Whether displayed in decorations, incorporated into thoughtful gifts, or cherished as a symbol of enduring value, silver truly shines during the holidays. 

Interested in getting physical silver as payment for your precious scrap metal materials? Noble Metal Refining makes it easy for our customers to receive payment in the form of silver (or gold) bullion products. Click Here to Get Started

The post Silver Celebrations: The Symbolism of Silver During the Holidays first appeared on Noble Metal Refining.

With the U.S. Presidential election just days away, it’s worth noting that the results of an election (or even predictions of an election’s outcome) can shake things up in the economy. When there’s political uncertainty, investors sometimes flock to “safe haven” assets to protect their wealth, driving up their prices. This can cause the price of gold and other precious metals to jump or dip as investors react to new economic signals.

Market Trends and Demand Drivers

Understanding the economics of precious metal refining begins with knowing the market trends and demand drivers that govern their prices. These include:

Investment Demand: Historically, precious metals have been sought after as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty. During times of geopolitical tension or market volatility, investors flock to these metals, driving up demand and prices.

Industrial Applications: Precious metals play pivotal roles in numerous industries, including electronics, automotive, and healthcare. Demand from these sectors is driven by technological advancements, regulatory requirements, and shifts in consumer preferences.

Jewelry and Ornaments: The ornamental appeal of precious metals remains a significant factor in shaping demand. Cultural traditions, celebrations, and changing fashion trends influence the demand for gold, silver, and platinum jewelry, impacting refining economics.

Central Bank Reserves: Central banks across the globe maintain reserves of precious metals as a form of financial security. Changes in these reserves, whether through buying or selling, can influence market sentiment and pricing.

Supply-Side Dynamics

On the supply side, the economics of precious metal refining are tied closely to extraction processes, mining output, and recycling efforts.

Mining Production: The majority of precious metals are extracted from mines scattered across the globe. Fluctuations in mining output, driven by factors such as labor disputes, geological challenges, or regulatory hurdles, directly impact the availability of raw materials for refining.

Recycling and Scrap: Recycling plays a vital role in supplementing the supply of precious metals. Refining companies like Noble Metal source significant portions of their raw materials from recycled electronics, jewelry, and industrial byproducts. The efficiency of these recycling processes can influence the economics of refining.

Environmental Regulations: Stringent environmental regulations governing mining and refining operations can impact production costs and, consequently, pricing. Compliance with environmental standards requires investments in sustainable technologies and practices, adding a layer of complexity to refining economics.

Pricing Mechanisms

The pricing of precious metals is governed by various mechanisms designed to reflect supply-demand dynamics and market sentiment.

London Fixing: If you deal in precious metals, you’re almost certainly familiar with the “London Fix,” a process that sets the price of precious metals, such as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, in the London bullion market. It is currently facilitated by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA). These prices serve as reference points for transactions globally, providing market participants with a transparent pricing mechanism.

Futures Markets: Futures contracts allow investors and hedgers to speculate on the future price movements of precious metals. The futures market provides valuable insights into market sentiment and serves as a tool for risk management for refining companies and investors alike.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Trading: OTC markets facilitate direct transactions between buyers and sellers outside of traditional exchanges. These markets offer flexibility and confidentiality but may lack the transparency of exchange-traded transactions.

Vote for Prosperity!

The economics of metal refining are a complicated blend of precious metal market trends, supply and demand dynamics, and pricing mechanisms…making them subject to constant change.

As the global economy evolves, the economics of precious metal refining will continue to be shaped by mining and recycling methods, world markets, and even the political landscape! As a seller of precious metal scrap, understanding the interplay between these elements and working with a refiner you trust will help ensure that you always get the most for your metals.

Interested in getting top dollar for your precious metal scrap? Vote Noble Metal Refining! Our OPEN DOOR POLICY ensures transparency in everything we do, including metal pricing and payouts.

Click Here to Get Started

The post Elect to Know More: Precious Metal Market Trends and Pricing Dynamics first appeared on Noble Metal Refining.

Precious metal refining involves the purification of metals like gold (Au), silver (Ag), platinum (Pt), and palladium (Pd) from raw materials such as ores, scrap metal, or electronic components. The process typically involves several chemical and physical steps to separate the precious metals from impurities. Here are a few of the important chemical principles and reactions involved:

Collection and Initial Processing

Scrap metal, such as jewelry, dental material or old electronics is first collected and sorted. The initial processing may involve:

• Mechanical Separation: Shredding and grinding the scrap to break it down into smaller pieces.
• Magnetic Separation: Using magnets to remove ferrous metals (iron and steel) from non-ferrous metals (copper, aluminum, precious metals).

Smelting

Smelting involves heating the scrap metal to high temperatures to melt it. This process often uses a furnace and a reducing agent (like carbon in the form of coke) to help separate the metal from its oxides and other impurities. The reducing agent reacts with the metal oxides in the scrap, reducing them to the pure metal. For example, in the case of gold:

2Au(OH)₃ +3O₂ → 2Au + 3H₂O +3O₂

Cupellation

Cupellation is a refining process used to separate silver and gold from base metals such as lead. The dore or bullion is melted and then heated in a cupel, which is a porous container made of bone ash or a similar material. The lead and other base metals oxidize and are absorbed into the cupel, leaving behind the precious metals. The precious metals remain in the metallic form and are collected for further purification.

Chemical Separation

Chemical methods such as aqua regia (Latin for “royal water”)  or cyanidation are often employed to further purify the precious metals obtained from cupellation. Aqua regia, a mixture of nitric acid (HNO₃) and hydrochloric acid (HCl), is particularly effective for dissolving gold, and separating precious gems from the metal. The gold chloride complex formed can be reduced back to metallic gold using a reducing agent such as sulfur dioxide or hydrazine. Cyanidation involves dissolving gold in a cyanide solution. The gold forms a soluble complex ion, which can then be separated from the rest of the material.

Electrolysis

Electrolysis is another common method for refining precious metals, especially copper and silver. In this process, the impure metal is dissolved in a suitable electrolyte solution, and an electric current is passed through the solution. The metal ions migrate towards the cathode (negative electrode), where they plate out as pure metal. This electrolytic refining process can achieve very high purity levels.

Final Purification

Depending on the desired purity level, the refined metals may undergo further purification steps such as zone refining, distillation, or selective precipitation.

Overall, refining metals involves a combination of physical and chemical processes aimed at separating the valuable metals from impurities to obtain high-purity products suitable for re-use in a range of applications, including jewelry-making, manufacturing, and investment.

Noble Metal Refining processes a wide range of materials containing gold, silver, platinum and palladium for our clients. The expertise employed in our refinery and on-site, state-of-the-art laboratory enables us to extract and refine both high- and low-grade materials containing these precious metals.

Understanding the chemistry behind precious metal refining helps us improve our processes, ensure safety, and drive innovation, ultimately contributing to more efficient and sustainable use of precious resources.

Click Here to learn more about the metal refining process we go through to make sure all of your precious metal material is captured and refined.

The post Refining 101: The Chemistry Behind Precious Metal Refining first appeared on Noble Metal Refining.

The Metal Makeup of Olympic Medals

Beginning with the Athens 1896 Olympics, the medals for almost all of the summer Olympic games have featured the image of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, on one side. The other side is left up to the host city organizing committee to design, with final approval coming from the IOC (International Olympic Committee). As a precious metal refiner, we wondered about the actual metal content and value of the 2024 Olympic medals. We learned that the IOC sets the following guidelines for the materials to be used for the medals:

• The Gold (first place) medal is composed of at least 92.5% of silver, plated with 6 grams of gold. According to Wikipedia, the gold medal from the 2020 Summer Olympics was worth close to $800 at the time. (Because metal prices fluctuate, so does the intrinsic value of the Olympic medals.)
• The Silver (second place) medal is composed of 92.5% silver. The value at the most recent Olympic games was $460.
• The Bronze (third place) medal is made up of 97% copper with 0.5% tin and 2.5% zinc. At the 2020 games, it had a metal value of about $5.

Of course, the true value of an Olympic medal lies not in its precious metal content, but in the value of the athlete’s accomplishment in competing against the world’s best and winning it! But there’s one more metal being incorporated into the Paris medals, and it’s making this year’s version of the medals a truly unique and priceless memento of the 2024 games.

A Piece of Paris in Every 2024 Olympic Medal

For the design of the 2024 Olympic medals, the Paris organizing committee has done something that will make them unmatched in the history of Olympic medal design. They’ve incorporated a piece of the city’s most iconic landmark – iron from the Eiffel Tower – into each and every 2024 Olympic medal.

During the 20^th century, the structure of the Eiffel Tower underwent renovation work which involved the removal of some metallic elements. These pieces of French history have been carefully preserved, and now they will be a part of Olympic history as well. On each medal for the Paris 2024 Olympics, original iron from the Eiffel Tower has been cut into a hexagon embossed with the Paris 2024 logo. According to the Olympic committee, “this piece of heritage blends elegantly with the gold, silver and bronze” creating a treasured keepsake for every winner who takes one of these coveted medals back home with them at the end of the Olympic games.

Parisian Creativity and Craftsmanship

Combining the iron of the Eiffel Tower with the gold, silver and bronze of the Olympic metals required the skill and creativity of a master jeweler. Selected for this prestigious task was the House of Chaumet, a renowned Parisian jeweler with a 240-year tradition of fine jewelry creation. The design incorporates three key motifs, the hexagon shape of the iron Eiffel Tower fragments, the “radiance” of fine-lined rays of embossed metal beneath the iron, and the “claw” setting connecting these two elements at the six corners of the iron hexagon. The settings are in the “Clous de Paris” shape reminiscent of the famous rivets on the Eiffel Tower.

The manufacturing process for the medals is more complex than the process for that of a coin. Metal blanks cut into discs were sent to the Hôtel de la Monnaie (French Mint) workshop on the left bank of the Seine River. These discs were then struck several times in a press equipped with specialized tools to bring out the design created by the Paris 2024 Committee and The House of Chaumet. The medals then underwent a series of specialized processes to remove impurities, polish and finalize the design, and create the gap through which the ribbons of the medals are threaded.

Sustainability Meets Sportsmanship

In line with Paris 2024’s commitment to sustainability, the 2024 Olympic medals were crafted using recycled materials. Per the IOC’s standards, the gold and silver metals are made from solid silver with a millesimal fineness of 925. Both the gold and silver used are certified 100% recycled by the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), one of the main regulatory bodies overseeing good practice in the supply of gold and other precious metals. For the bronze medals, the copper alloy, tin and zinc used come from reused scraps of metal that are a byproduct of other production processes of the Monnaie de Paris.

With their iconic design and sustainable materials, the 2024 Olympic medals promise to be an inspiring and lasting testament to the spirit of competition and the “thrill of victory” of the Olympic games. We can’t wait to cheer on the U.S. team as they travel to Paris to compete (especially the many athletes from right here in our home state of Indiana)!

To learn more about how refining and recycling your scrap metal helps to advance sustainable use of our global resources, check out our blog article, How Precious Metal Recycling Helps Save the Planet.

GET CASH FOR YOUR GOLD, SILVER, AND OTHER PRECIOUS METAL SCRAP

Click Here to order FREE collection containers and shipping labels for your scrap materials, and begin recycling with Noble Metal Refining today.

The post The Paris 2024 Olympic Medals: Gold, Silver, Bronze…and Iron? first appeared on Noble Metal Refining.

Precious metal refining typically involves heating the metal to 2300 degrees in a container called a crucible in an induction furnace. Proprietary chemicals are added which allows the removal of undesirable waste (called slag) leaving a homogenous metal bar which can be analyzed with complete accuracy to determine the purity of the metal sent to Noble Metal Refinery.

Methods of Refining

Precious metal refining involves the purification of metals like gold, silver, platinum, and palladium from raw materials such as ores, electronic components, or scrap metal. This specialized procedure typically involves a combination of physical and chemical processes to separate the valuable precious metals from impurities to obtain high-purity products suitable for re-use. Purified precious metal is used in a wide range of applications, including the making of jewelry, electronic and industrial components, health care devices, or for investment purposes. By recycling your scrap and returning it to the market in this way, you’re helping to reduce the need to mine new material.

There are several different processes employed for purifying metals depending on the type of metals being refined. It is critical to utilize the right process to achieve the highest quality results. Some of these processes are:

• Oxidation
• Smelting
• Cupellation
• Chemical Refining
• Electrolysis
• Distillation

How Noble Processes Your Precious Metal Scrap

At Noble Metal Refining, we refine and recycle a wide range of materials containing gold, silver, platinum and palladium for jewelers, pawn shops, dentists, dental labs and other industries. It’s important to choose a refiner known for handling precious metal scrap like yours to ensure proper processing and fair compensation. While the process varies by customer and the types of metal in the lots our customers send us, ours typically involves the following steps:

Receiving and Weighing: We receive your shipment in our securely monitored weigh-in room, and weigh it to determine accurate gross weights. We then call the customer to report the weight, and tag the lot for identification throughout the refining process.

Stone Removal: When processing jewelry scrap, it’s important to choose a refiner with the expertise to preserve and return gemstones from the jewelry scrap received for refining. Noble Metal uses a specialized chemical process called aqua regia to safely remove even the tiniest stones from the jewelry we refine. Stones recovered are returned to the customer along with their final payment.

Separating Precious from Non-Precious Metals: Noble Metal utilizesthermal oxidation to incinerate all organic, non-precious material in the bench sweep lots we receive. The remaining precious metal material is then ball-milled into a fine, crushed powder which is sifted to separate non-ferrous (non-magnetic) metals and magnetic oversize materials.

Melt and Sample: After undergoing the process of oxidation and sifting to separate precious from non-precious metals in each lot, the non-ferrous metallics are smelted in the appropriate induction furnace. A flux is added to remove all impurities from the metal, which is then poured and cooled to form a homogenous metal cone or bar with a sample (pin-core) taken for analysis.

Analysis: This step involves testing the pin-core sample to determine metal purity. Noble utilizes state-of-the-art techniques in our on-site laboratory to quantify the purity of the gold, silver, platinum and palladium in your materials for the highest level of accuracy and accountability. Methods may include acid testing, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and fire assay to accurately assess the composition of the metals. Once analysis is complete, Noble issues a detailed, easy-to-understand assay report showing payout on all metals refined.

Final Product: The refined metal is formed into precious metal bars, ingots or pellets, which are easier to handle and trade in the market.

Throughout the entire process, Noble adheres to rigorous quality control measures to ensure that the refined metal meets industry standards and our customers’ specifications. Once the refining and analysis is complete, customers receive payment based on the quantity and purity of the metals processed. Our flexible settlement options include payment in 24 Karat gold, gold or silver bullion products, ACH or wire transfer, or by check.

If you’d like to see for yourself how precious metal is refined, take our ONLINE REFINERY TOUR.

Better yet, contact us to SCHEDULE A VISIT to our Indianapolis refining facility and see your precious metals being refined with your own eyes! We’re proud of our transparent process, and would love to show you in person how your precious metal is refined.

The post How Precious Metal is Refined first appeared on Noble Metal Refining.

IndyCars are single-seater race cars capable of racing at speeds of over 200 mph. According the NTT INDYCAR Series website, the Dallara chassis or “frame” of an IndyCar, is made of carbon fiber, kevlar and “other composites.” But what are those “other composites,” and how do they contribute to the car’s performance?

The core of the car’s chassis is its survival cell, or monocoque housing which houses the driver and fuel tank. The survival cell is made from carbon fiber and aluminum, and undergoes stringent crash tests to ensure the driver’s safety.

And then of course, there’s the power behind the speed, the turbocharged engines of these specialized vehicles, along with the suspension, gearbox, and many other components. We took a closer look at the many metals utilized in IndyCar construction. Here’s what we learned:

Aluminum

Aluminum and its alloys are big in IndyCar construction, and are highly utilized due to their lightweight properties, high strength-to-weight ratio, and corrosion resistance. Aluminum components are found throughout the car, including the chassis, suspension components, and gearbox housings. The excellent machinability of aluminum also makes it a preferred choice for various intricate parts. The wheel rims for all IndyCar Series cars are made of aluminum alloy.

Titanium

Titanium is prized for its exceptional strength, corrosion resistance, and lightweight characteristics. In IndyCars, titanium is often used in critical components like suspension elements, gearbox components, and engine parts. Its high strength-to-weight ratio allows engineers to reduce weight without sacrificing structural integrity. Just this year, IndyCar introduced an update to a safety feature called the ”Aeroscreen,” which is designed to protect drivers from head and upper body injuries. It consists of a PPG-developed laminated polycarbonate ballistic windscreen reinforced with a titanium framework. The 2024 update of this safety feature includes a 3D-printed titanium frame that is 3kg lighter than the previous version. The technology is amazing! Check it out in this INDYCAR 101 Video.

Steel

While not as prevalent in lightweight racing cars, steel is still used in certain components that require high strength and durability. For example, steel is commonly used in the construction of roll cages and safety structures to ensure driver safety in the event of a crash.

Magnesium

Magnesium and its alloys are utilized in various lightweight components of IndyCars, such as wheels, gearbox housings, and certain engine parts. Like many of the metals used in IndyCar construction, magnesium offers excellent strength-to-weight ratio and heat dissipation properties, contributing to improved efficiency, faster acceleration and higher speeds.

Beryllium

In some specialized applications, beryllium and its alloys may be used in IndyCar construction. Beryllium is exceptionally lightweight and offers high stiffness, making it suitable for specific components where weight reduction and performance are critical.

These metals, along with advanced composite materials like carbon fiber, are carefully selected and engineered to meet the stringent performance, safety, and weight requirements of IndyCar racing. The combination of these materials helps to optimize the car’s speed, agility, and overall performance on the racetrack making the Indy 500, in our humble opinion, the most exciting sporting event in the world!

To get the most out of your precious metals, go with the Indy refiner! We make it easy and profitable to have your precious metal materials refined and recycled. SIGN UP HERE

The post Pedal to the Metal: What Goes Into An IndyCar? first appeared on Noble Metal Refining.

What’s the Big Deal?

A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. During a total eclipse, the sky darkens significantly and the air temperature drops about 10 degrees. A total eclipse is the rock star of celestial events, drawing people hoping to view and experience this rare event from far and wide (using their special, ISO-certified eclipse viewing glasses of course). In Indiana, we’re told to expect up to half a million out-of-state visitors on the day of the event!

What is the Sun’s Ring of Fire?

Weather permitting, spectators in the “path of totality” will be able to view the Sun’s corona, the outermost layer of its atmosphere, which is usually obscured by the bright face of the Sun. This layer is called the ring of fire, partly because that’s exactly what it looks like at the point of an eclipse’s totality, but also because it is WAY hotter than the Sun’s surface. The ring of fire has temperatures reaching more than 2 million degrees Fahrenheit compared to the Sun’s relatively cooler surface temperatures of around 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This phenomenon has puzzled scientists for decades, since conventional heat transfer mechanisms can’t account for such a significant increase in temperature away from the Sun’s core. One source says it would be like sitting in front of a campfire in a seat 200 times hotter than the burning wood. In other words, it defies physics!

How Does It Get So Hot?

That has been the burning question for scientists ever since they began studying the Sun. Theories abound, but interestingly (to metal refiners like us especially), one of the leading explanations for this temperature difference involves the presence of trace amounts of metals such as iron, nickel, and magnesium in the corona. Astronomers first observed the solar eclipse ring of fire during the 1869 total solar eclipse. Their observations revealed a feature in the corona that they interpreted as evidence of a new element which they named “coronium.” Seventy years later, improved theories revealed that it was not a new element at all, but was actually iron superheated to a temperature much higher than that of the Sun’s surface. But how is the corona able to burn at such high temperatures? Many scientists now believe that the corona’s extreme heat is due to the complex interplay of electromagnetic waves and/or nanoflares, plasma dynamics, and the presence of ionized metals within the Sun’s atmosphere that conduct and transfer energy.

Next week, scientists across the country will be observing the total solar eclipse of 2024 with the expectation that the moment when darkness falls across the land will help shed light on the mysteries of the Sun’s power, including what makes the ring of fire burn so fiercely. They will be aided in their observations by two sophisticated spacecrafts, the Parker Solar Probe which NASA launched in 2018, and the Solar Orbiter, launched by the European Space Agency in 2020. If you’d like to learn more details about the science behind it all, check out these great articles:

How the Eclipse Will Change Solar Science Forever

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe and the Curious Case of the Hot Corona

And if, for some strange reason, Johnny Cash is suddenly on your mind, here’s a little something for your listening pleasure! Johnny Cash: Ring of Fire

To learn more about why our Indianapolis location makes Noble Metal Refining a “hot spot” for our many refining customers, click here.

The post It’s Showtime! Viewing the 2024 Solar Eclipse Ring of Fire first appeared on Noble Metal Refining.

Where It All Started

How and when did Valentine’s Day get its start? Although it has been celebrated for centuries, its origins as a day of love are a bit of a mystery. There are plenty of theories though! Some trace the holiday’s beginnings to an ancient Roman fertility festival called Lupercalia, which was celebrated in mid-February. This annual event featured a drawing where young bachelors of the city would pick the names of young, single women from an urn, and then become their companions for the rest of the year with the hope that the matches would result in marriage. With the rise of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire, this “pagan” festival was eventually outlawed. At the end of the 5^th century, Pope Gelasius essentially replaced it when he declared February 14^th to be St. Valentine’s Day.

What’s in a Name?

Just about everyone agrees that Valentine’s Day was named for Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr, although exactly WHICH Saint Valentine is a matter of debate. The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different martyred saints named Valentine or Valentinus. The most commonly accepted story is that Valentine was a third-century Roman priest living during the time of Emperor Claudius II. At that time, Claudius outlawed marriage for young men because he believed that single men made better soldiers that those with wives and families. Valentine rebelled against this unjust decree, and continued to secretly perform weddings for young Christian couples. He was eventually discovered, imprisoned and executed for this act of defiance in the name of love, and ultimately canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church. The rest is…well, history!

Valentine Gift-Giving Traditions

Today of course, St. Valentine’s Day is all about love and romance, and one of the most popular traditions associated with this day is giving your loved one a token of your affection. Whether it’s a simple card or something more, Valentine presents are a way to express your feelings for that special someone. But it took awhile for this tradition to grow! Exchanging home-made cards with loving sentiments began as far back as the Middle Ages, an era known for its elevation of courtly love and romance through songs, poems and artwork. The Victorian age accelerated the custom of giving cards, and by the mid-19^th century, the ability to mass produce paper greeting cards solidified this still-strong Valentine’s Day tradition. In fact, according to Hallmark, approximately 145 million Valentine’s cards are now exchanged each year!

The Special Gift of Jewelry

So when did Valentine presents of jewelry come into the picture? Although lovers have exchanged gifts on Valentine’s Day down through the ages, the custom of giving jewelry didn’t really take hold until the 20^th century. Retail industry observers credit the classic “A Diamond is Forever” marketing campaign – launched by the De Beers company in 1947 – with making diamonds THE gem for engagement rings. With Valentine’s Day being one of the most popular days for marriage proposals, a new tradition was born and the giving of jewelry on this day took off like a champagne cork!

Throughout the modern era, jewelry designers have outdone themselves in using precious metals and a wide array of beautiful gemstones to create unique jewelry gifts with lasting value. Today, everything from diamond rings to heart-shaped pendants are exchanged by couples on Valentine’s Day as a symbol of their love and commitment. In fact,  According to the National Retail Federation, American consumers are planning to spend a new record of more than $6.4 billion on jewelry for St. Valentine’s Day this year. The top gift categories for the holiday include:

• Candy (57%)
• Greeting Cards (40%)
• Flowers (39%)
• An Evening Out (32%)
• Jewelry (22%)
• Clothing (21%) and
• Gift Cards (19%)

So whether you’re celebrating with a romantic partner or showing love to a friend or family member (or even a pet!), the wide range of unique Valentine presents available today ensures that you’ll have plenty of choices to make their day special!

Send your gold and silver jewelry scrap to us…you’ll our “sweet” payouts!  Learn more.

The post From Love Notes to Diamonds: A Colorful History of Valentine Presents first appeared on Noble Metal Refining.