When people think of precious metals, they often imagine coins, bars, or jewelry. However, precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum can appear in unexpected places. Here are five surprising sources you might not have considered.
1. Landfills
Many discard electronics, medical equipment, jewelry, and automotive parts, and these items containing precious metals end up in landfill facilities. Businesses often pay to dispose of these materials, but with refining, those waste streams can yield gold, silver, platinum, and more.
Using proper extraction methods, landfill mining can turn large quantities of scrap into valuable precious metals for you. However, please be aware that landfill mining requires specialized equipment and knowledge to separate precious metals from potentially toxic compounds and lower-value elements.
2. Old Mine Tailings
When mines process ore, leftover materials known as tailings remain, sometimes with trace amounts of precious metals still present. Especially in regions with historic mining activity, these tailings may contain gold, silver, or other precious metals that weren’t extracted initially.
3. Antique & Vintage Items
Certain antiques and vintage objects may contain precious metals hidden in their structure:
- Mirrors and picture frames may have silver or gold plating
- Vintage furniture often features metal accents or decorative plating
- Antique silverware, serving trays, or decorative objects may contain sterling silver or higher grades.
Even if an item is no longer functional, its precious metal components might be worth extracting.
4. Jewelry Scrap
Old, damaged, or broken jewelry is a more obvious place to find precious metals, but it’s often overlooked. Even pieces that can’t be worn anymore can still contain meltable gold, silver, or platinum content.
AU Precious Metals uses non-invasive assaying methods to determine which metals make up your jewelry and its purity.
5. Batteries & Electronics
With modern electronics and rechargeable devices everywhere, battery recycling is an emerging source of precious metals. Some batteries contain small amounts of gold, silver, and other valuable metals. As electronics become more complex, the concentration of precious metals in them grows, making recycling these devices more worthwhile.
Turning Discoveries Into Cash
Once you find precious metals, the next step is knowing their value. Choose a reputable buyer like AU Precious Metals who can use non-destructive testing to let you know the purity of your scrap precious metals without damaging them. We buy most types of precious metals, including silver, gold, platinum, palladium, and rhodium.
Visit us in Rochester or Sterling Heights! Walk-ins are welcome or schedule your appointment online. You can also check out our secure mail-in program to turn your precious metals into cash today.
Need Help? Call us now: (586) 271-7500
Trusted Precious Metals Dealer Near You
AU Precious Metals proudly serves customers across Michigan and beyond, offering expert services in buying and selling gold, silver, platinum, and other precious metals. Whether you’re looking to sell your jewelry, coins, bullion, or scrap metal, or you’re an investor seeking to purchase high quality precious metals, our experienced team is here to help. We’re known for fair pricing, secure transactions, and exceptional customer service.
Find your city below to learn more about our precious metal services near you:
Don’t see your city? We welcome walk-ins and appointments from across Michigan, and we also offer mail-in services for out-of-state customers. Contact us to find out how we can help you.
