October 20, 2009 at 16:49Olympic medals from old gadgets
The champions of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver will celebrate their victory with gadgets on their necks. The Canadian Mint has chosen Teck Resources , a company specializing in the processing of so-called “electronic trash,” as the supplier of metal for medals . They mine gold, silver and other precious metals from cathode tubes, batteries, microchips, keyboards and discarded gadgets.
As part of the Olympic order, Teck Resources will supply the mint with 2.05 kg of gold, as well as 1950 kg of silver and 903 kg of copper. At the same time, metals from electronic debris will make up 1.52% of gold, 0.122% of silver and 1.11% of copper.
In total, more than a thousand medals will be made. Why for this you need almost three tons of metal, that is, 3 kg per medal - it’s not entirely clear, the numbers are taken fromofficial press release and there is hardly a mistake. Apparently, a complicated technical process.
The geekiness of the medals does not end there. The fact is that the round beads themselves are not flat, but have a shape curved according to an incomprehensible formula.
According to legend, the curved shape represents ocean waves, snowdrifts and the mountainous landscape of Vancouver.
If interested, the video shows in detail the process of processing "electronic garbage".
via Crave
As part of the Olympic order, Teck Resources will supply the mint with 2.05 kg of gold, as well as 1950 kg of silver and 903 kg of copper. At the same time, metals from electronic debris will make up 1.52% of gold, 0.122% of silver and 1.11% of copper.
In total, more than a thousand medals will be made. Why for this you need almost three tons of metal, that is, 3 kg per medal - it’s not entirely clear, the numbers are taken fromofficial press release and there is hardly a mistake. Apparently, a complicated technical process.
The geekiness of the medals does not end there. The fact is that the round beads themselves are not flat, but have a shape curved according to an incomprehensible formula.
According to legend, the curved shape represents ocean waves, snowdrifts and the mountainous landscape of Vancouver.
If interested, the video shows in detail the process of processing "electronic garbage".
via Crave