Accomplished : the end of another experience

My immersion period ended last February 6, 2018. They taught me more on technical skills.
On my 10-day immersion, I felt like a real STEM-worker. I had more hands-on roles inside the laboratory. I even had the chance to visit a mining plant, at Agusan del Sur, managed by the owner of the laboratory I was immersed in.

              

I found my work immersion not easy. It's a work mostly for men. I needed to adjust and level with them. I also needed to act boyishly because all the lab personnel were men.

The test was literally hot. The test I'd undergone dealt with fire. They called it firing and it was done in the fire assay furnace. There was also a time I got burned because I lost control of the hand grip of the crucible tong. The hot porcelain glass accidentally fell so I tried to catch it but it was hot. Even my gloves got burned. The scar I got will always remind me of that experience. I don't regret it. It's part of learning.

On my last day, I had my actual performance in copper titration. The test produced a very strong odor and it almost intoxicated me but with the help of God, I survived.

After the test, I accomplished all my reports so that my instructor could rate my performance and give their comments and suggestions on my TRB. The day just ended just like the ordinary days. Nothing special.

I went back to the office to ask for my rating.
The owner checked my reports and asked for a copy of it for their company file and as my legacy to the laboratory. It would help the next batch of apprentices who would choose to work in the laboratory.

I couldn't afford to say goodbye in front of them and leave sentiments because I was afraid that they would just laugh at me; they're a bunch of happy people there. I just gave each one of them a thank you letter to extend my sincerest thanks to them.

Things I learned during my Immersion

There are a lot of things that you can learn in an experience. During my 10- day immersion, here are some of the things I've learned in Aurealle Assay Laboratory":

1.) There's no turning back
At first, while walking towards my work immersion place, I realized that I really felt bad that I didn't join with my classmates in their working place. I was the only student who had been immersed in the facility. I tempted myself to back out and follow them but then I realized it wasn't a good decision. I had to face it because I chose it. At the end, I would be accountable with all my actions. At the end of my immersion, I could say that I was still lucky because they didn't experience what I'd experienced, like holding a refined gold with my bare hands.

2.) Offer properly
The company deals with costumers so I entertained our costumers properly.

3.) Do the right test
You should physically examine the sample first so that you can determine what chemicals and method you will apply in the test.

4.) Check the equipment (pulverizer)
To ensure that it is in good condition before using, make sure it is properly lubricated and then retighten loose bolt to prevent further damage. Clean it before using to avoid contamination with the other sample.

 5.)Hygiene should be top priority
In the laboratory, where chemicals are dealt, it's safer to handwash thrice.

6.) Be safety-conscious
Wear safety devices like laboratory gown, gloves, mask and goggles while working.

7.) There is always something to learn
Sometimes experiments help you discover things. Some things occur by accident during experiments.

8.) Cyanide is worst
Just a drop of it can take your life away. When handling this chemical reagent, make sure to wear safety devices and wash your hands three or more times after handling it. Cyanide is used for leaching during adsorption process. It is used to extract soluble constituents or turn gold of solid forms like ores into a liquid form.

9.) Gold is indestructible
Through our random test and experiment, I have proven that gold is indestructible. Even cyanide couldn't dissolve it.

10.) Top Secret: Love your work
My instructor told me that I should do whatever I do with love. In order to succeed in whatever career you're in, you should love it so that you can perform excellently always.

11.) how to operate the the pulverizer machine

12.)  I learned how to operate the fire assay furnace
               
                                                            

13.) I learned the procedure of fire assaying

14.) I learned how to fire assay during my 10-day work immersion. I had more hands-on role and I even did simple operations inside the lab.

15.) I learned how to do copper titration.
I had my actual performance in copper titration on my last day of my immersion. It almost intoxicated me because of its strong odor but thank God I survived. In copper titration, a lot of chemicals are used, so it's very dangerous.

16.) I learned the three phases in mining plant.
I had the chance to go to Rosario, Agusan del sur in BMEA mining plant managed by the owner of the assay laboratory facility where I was immersed.
The three phases are crushing, grinding and adsorption.

17.)I learned that the true color of gold is black it wil just turn into yellow after adding with nitric acid, washed it with water and subject it again to heat

18.) I learned how to compute the result after weighing the gold beats.
For solid, muckore and waste :
            15g x 66.67
            30g x 33.33
For Carbon : 1.5 x 666
For Sol'n : 50ml x 20.20
Copper : 1g x 0.628