Fields metal cassiterite experiment - Revision history

Cornish semiconductor at 15:56, 31 October 2026

2026-10-31T15:56:23Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:56, 31 October 2026
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	Once solidified and checked that it was held securely, I used a multimeter to check the resistance between the metal and the shiny parts of the cassiterite. This proves that there is a good electrical connection between them. On one of the specimens I only have connection to one area of the cassiterite on one side - I tried remelting it and dipping it further in, but didn't manage to make it connect.		Once solidified and checked that it was held securely, I used a multimeter to check the resistance between the metal and the shiny parts of the cassiterite. This proves that there is a good electrical connection between them. On one of the specimens I only have connection to one area of the cassiterite on one side - I tried remelting it and dipping it further in, but didn't manage to make it connect.

			This method means you can use much smaller crystals, good for rare substances. Here I manage to position two point contacts on a small cassiterite embedded in Fields metal.

			[[File:Fields-installed.jpg]]

Cornish semiconductor: /* Stage 3: Mounting the crystals */

2026-10-25T22:26:22Z

Stage 3: Mounting the crystals

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:26, 25 October 2026
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	[[File:Fields-cass.jpg\|right\|300px]]		[[File:Fields-cass.jpg\|right\|300px]]

	The next stage is to select a fragment of Field's metal for each crystal to mount, you put it in the corner of the plastic bag and bring it into contact with the hot water. When it has fully melted the crystal can be dipped in and carefully held while you pull the bag out and leave it to cool. The molten metal will not stick to the matrix, and it can be hard sometimes to get it work. The trick is to pull the crystal slightly out so the surface tension can be seen pulling on the crystal.		The next stage is to select a fragment of Field's metal for each crystal to mount, you put it in the corner of the plastic bag and bring it into contact with the hot water. When it has fully melted the crystal can be dipped in using tweezers and carefully held in place while you pull the bag out and leave it to cool. The molten metal will not stick to the matrix, and it can be hard sometimes to get it work. The trick is to pull the crystal slightly out so the surface tension can be seen pulling on the crystal.

	Once solidified and checked, I used a multimeter to check the resistance between the metal and the shiny parts of the cassiterite. This proves that there is a connection between them.		Once solidified and checked that it was held securely, I used a multimeter to check the resistance between the metal and the shiny parts of the cassiterite. This proves that there is a good electrical connection between them. On one of the specimens I only have connection to one area of the cassiterite on one side - I tried remelting it and dipping it further in, but didn't manage to make it connect.

Cornish semiconductor: /* Stage 2: Preparing and figuring out how to deal with low temperature alloys */

2026-10-25T22:23:37Z

Stage 2: Preparing and figuring out how to deal with low temperature alloys

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:23, 25 October 2026
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	The first thing to do was to isolate some relatively pure specimens from the matrix. This took a bit of time breaking down the rock into small chips, and carefully collecting intact crystals that fell out of the matrix. I ended up with a small collection with differing quantities of matrix left on them. I selected fragments that were as electrically connected as possible to make the next stage easier.		The first thing to do was to isolate some relatively pure specimens from the matrix. This took a bit of time breaking down the rock into small chips, and carefully collecting intact crystals that fell out of the matrix. I ended up with a small collection with differing quantities of matrix left on them. I selected fragments that were as electrically connected as possible to make the next stage easier.

	==Stage 2: Preparing ~~and figuring out how to deal with low temperature alloys~~==		==Stage 2: Preparing the field's metal==

	[[File:Fields-melt.jpg\|right\|300px]]		[[File:Fields-melt.jpg\|right\|300px]]

	I obtained some [[Field's metal]], imported from Germany - 100g for 60 EUR, costly because of the indium content of the alloy. It melts at 62 degrees, and it took a bit of playing around to ~~find a good way~~ to ~~mount these crystals~~. Firstly I needed to divide the largish 'ingots' into smaller fragments for the relatively small crystals I was ~~left~~ with.		I obtained some [[Field's metal]], imported from Germany - 100g for 60 EUR, costly because of the indium content of the alloy. I was worried this wouldn't be enough for the high price, but in fact it's plenty to do many crystals. It melts at 62 degrees, and it took a bit of playing around to figure out how to use it. Firstly I needed to divide the largish 'ingots' into smaller fragments for the relatively small crystals I was dealing with.

	The best way I found was to use boiling water and the corner of a plastic bag. If you leave it long enough the whole ingot melts and you can squidge it into smaller quantities which then solidify.		The best way I found was to use boiling water and the corner of a plastic bag. If you leave it long enough the whole ingot melts and you can squidge it into smaller quantities which then solidify. You can break them easily before they are fully solidified.

	==Stage 3: Mounting the crystals==		==Stage 3: Mounting the crystals==

Cornish semiconductor: Created page with "Category:ACE R&D An experiment using Field's metal with some samples of cassiterite from the Great Flat Lode exotic semiconductor field trip. This material is tricky to use in it's raw form as the cassiterite, which while being well crystallised - is quite evenly distributed through the matrix and forms small clusters that are electrically insulated from each other. While it's possible to connect cat's whiskers to the crystal surfaces, it's very hard to..."

2026-10-25T22:21:27Z

Created page with "Category:ACE R&D An experiment using Field's metal with some samples of cassiterite from the Great Flat Lode exotic semiconductor field trip. This material is tricky to use in it's raw form as the cassiterite, which while being well crystallised - is quite evenly distributed through the matrix and forms small clusters that are electrically insulated from each other. While it's possible to connect cat's whiskers to the crystal surfaces, it's very hard to..."

New page

[[Category:ACE R&D]]

An experiment using [[Field's metal]] with some samples of [[cassiterite]] from the [[Great Flat Lode exotic semiconductor field trip]]. This material is tricky to use in it's raw form as the cassiterite, which while being well crystallised - is quite evenly distributed through the matrix and forms small clusters that are electrically insulated from each other. While it's possible to connect cat's whiskers to the crystal surfaces, it's very hard to use the crocodile clips in my [[cat's whisker setups]] to connect them, using the usual method of aluminum foil.

==Stage 1: Preparing the material==

[[File:Raw-crystals.jpg|right|300px]]

The first thing to do was to isolate some relatively pure specimens from the matrix. This took a bit of time breaking down the rock into small chips, and carefully collecting intact crystals that fell out of the matrix. I ended up with a small collection with differing quantities of matrix left on them. I selected fragments that were as electrically connected as possible to make the next stage easier.

==Stage 2: Preparing and figuring out how to deal with low temperature alloys==

[[File:Fields-melt.jpg|right|300px]]

I obtained some [[Field's metal]], imported from Germany - 100g for 60 EUR, costly because of the indium content of the alloy. It melts at 62 degrees, and it took a bit of playing around to find a good way to mount these crystals. Firstly I needed to divide the largish 'ingots' into smaller fragments for the relatively small crystals I was left with.

The best way I found was to use boiling water and the corner of a plastic bag. If you leave it long enough the whole ingot melts and you can squidge it into smaller quantities which then solidify.

==Stage 3: Mounting the crystals==

[[File:Fields-cass.jpg|right|300px]]

The next stage is to select a fragment of Field's metal for each crystal to mount, you put it in the corner of the plastic bag and bring it into contact with the hot water. When it has fully melted the crystal can be dipped in and carefully held while you pull the bag out and leave it to cool. The molten metal will not stick to the matrix, and it can be hard sometimes to get it work. The trick is to pull the crystal slightly out so the surface tension can be seen pulling on the crystal.

Once solidified and checked, I used a multimeter to check the resistance between the metal and the shiny parts of the cassiterite. This proves that there is a connection between them.