SYNTHETIC GOLD

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXVI, Issue 7907, 26 September 1929, Page 2

SYNTHETIC GOLD

PRODUCTION FROM CHEMICALS THE CHRISTCHURCH CLAIM SCIENTISTS SCEPTICAL For centuries past chemists and cranks have conducted exhaustive experiments in the hope of producing synthetic gold but have failed, the only source from which the precious metal has so far been extracted being mother earth. Now we have two Christchurch residents in the field with the claim that by what they term the chromadyne process they have produced gold from chemicals, and that the metal has been declared genuine by a jeweller who tested it at the request of the producers. Pending confirmation by experts the claim will be received

with scepticism, in fact English scientists have already declared

against it —in a recent cablegram—and Dr. E. Marsden, D.Sc., F.N.Z.1., F.P.S.L., etc., professor of physics at the Victoria University College, Wellington, has, by inuendo, dismissed the idea as impossible. According to a Press Association message which appeared in the “Waihi Telegraph” of Saturday last Dr. Marsden, when interviewed on the subject, had nothing to say beyond “that he had had samples of the ‘gold’ analysed and that he had prepared a report for the Government which had been asked for support in the venture”; adding significantly; “It is extraordinarily interesting. Someone will ask questions in Par-: Lament one of these days and then it will all come out.”

WHAT A REPORTER SAW Meantime, however, it will no doubt interest our readers to hear what a representative of the Christchurch Sun, who attended a demonstration of the “gold making” has to say. Here it is: Gold was produced for a reporter this week at a demonstration of what is claimed to be the chrornadyne process. The gold was subsequently handed to a jeweller who tested it and pronounced it genuine. The reporter actually wir.nesscd a slug of gold produced from a very small heap of chemicals. In explanation of the decision not to give any more demonstrations, the members of the syndicate state that they Lave sought no publicity. They preferred to keep the question a secret and held that the process was their own business in entirety. The demonstration given occupied at least an hour. Further tests were made before success was achieved. The chrornadyne board was humming away with its load of energy and multi-coloured lights blinked here and there. Mr G. P. Ashton, who claims to have discovered the new energy, chrornadyne, and to be able to produce gold, showed tiio reporter the stock of chemicals which he had mixed. Oxalic acid was the principal element, he said. Tire reporter handled this chemical, which looks like snow.

Mr Ashton placed a big tablespoonful of the chemical on a tin tray, which served as an “earth,” on an asbestos-topped table. The reporter placed goggles over his eyes, for the glare was extremely strong, and a cloth was placed over mouth and nostrils because of the fumes. Mr Ashton then switched on the energy he has named chroniadyne.

“GOLD" IN THE MAKING Pinkish and oeautiful in profusion, the energy flowed from the carbon held by Mr Ashton. An arc completed, the energy flowed through the crystal; there was a “run” in the little heap. The power was switched off and there was a piece of gold, molten and blackened with carbon. That is what happened, but ten attempts had to be made. A fault in the arc, poor “earth,” or poor conductivity of the chemicals • was blamed.

Only a fraction of the heap of crystals is affected by the heat and, once a trial has been made, the crystals are thrown out. The little pan is scraped clean. As the reporter had no knowledge of the chemicals used, the possibility of “faulting” is not excluded. Though no statement was obtained from Dr. Marsden or the syndicate regarding any experiment during the day, there is good reason to believe that the doctor examined the plant. If that is true, it would be safe to assume the following; (1) That any demonstration given to him would be at least equal to that given to the reporter. (2) That any attempt to decieve such a critic by any such unscientific method as the faulting of the chemicals would lend itself to detection.

(3) That Dr. Marsden would require a chemical analysis and the opportunities of investigating any point of a doubtful nature.