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The piece of silver instantly dissolves under a 1,762° flame, turning viscous and mirrorlike. A pair of snipe-nosed pliers in my hand, I’m shown how to push the metal into a long, narrow, rodlike shape.
Once cooled, the ore can be separated from the base of the crucible with more force than I’m comfortable applying. As a novice lapidary somebody who cuts, polishes, or engraves gems the fear of causing injury to myself and those in close proximity is real.
On a bench behind us is a milling machine with a large metal handle that grinds two grooved cogs together.