Theoretically: If I melted down 14k, 10k gold would they be able to be sold or be worth anything.or can you only have pure gold bars (24k) that have value??? I‘m sorry for the confusing question.I just don‘t know how to re-word it.Thanks :)
In order for gold to reach 24k or .9999 purity it requires refining out the impurities Anything below 22k has other metals included to alloy the metal. These metals generally are copper or silver. In terms of selling these yes, they have value. Generally buyers pay the equivalent value for volume, 24-carat gold is fine (99.9% Au w/w), 18-carat gold is 75% gold, 12-carat gold is 50% gold, and so forth. If you have a piece of jewelry that is 18k, the value of gold is 75%, so if spot price is $1436.00/oz and you have piece of 18k that weighs an ounce, the value is $1077. You would also lose a bit more on that amount as the result of the refiner taking his cut subject another 10-20% from the 1077.00 Refining is not melting it down it is a process where the metals are reduces chemically with solutes, and separated you just can't melt down 10k and pull out the gold, you have to chemically remove the alloys in aqua regia and other acids, or chemical salt solutions. Getting pure gold requires some work. Your 22k,18k, 14K or 10k gold, jewelry is generally placed by a refiner in a solution called Aqua Regia, then certain salts are added at specific stages in the process to draw out the target element, where gold is the last stage in the chain. Doree Bars are gold that come out of mining companies can generally be anything from 60% to 90% gold, (depending on the mine).
Gold bars are 24k, but that's just to reduce the bulk and make the counting easy. It doesn't make the gold inside any more valuable. You're not going to be able to hand over a gold bar at 7-eleven or the grocery store, so you already need to find someone that's willing to handle a gold purchase (like a jeweler or a pawn shop). I doubt that you're going to get a discount for melting it down yourself.
