Colombian scientists have developed a new thermochemical process which can tint gold to look like rubies, sapphires and emeralds, increasing its value up to five-fold, reported news provider France 24 Monday.
The process, developed at Medellin’s University of Antioquia, involves mixing gold with reactive metals before placing the mixture in special ovens for tinting.
“It does not involve painting the gold or covering it with some material that disguises the traditional white, yellow or pink of the precious metal,” said researcher Maria Eugenia Carmona. “It involves subjecting it to an elaborate thermochemical process of eight to ten hours, after which not only does the color become red, blue or green, among others, but it also increases its market price significantly.”
Colombia is expected to produce three million ounces of gold in 2012, an increase on last year’s output. Colombia, Mexico and Peru are Latin America’s largest suppliers of gold.
“We are sitting on a mine and it’s sad to see large companies take our gold as raw material to other countries where it is processed to return here at a higher price,” said Carmona.
With the advent of the new tinting process, Colombia hopes to increase the value of its gold and boost exports.
