Did India get some tungsten bars in their last gold purchase?

tincup

The link below is an interesting YouTube video... well, actually it is just an audio. But does have some interesting scenarios. For instance, they bring up the possibility that gold plated tungsten bars were in use in the early 70's, before Nixon did away with the gold standard. Also, they speculate that the central banks that are holding gold have known about the tungsten bars for some time, have tested their holdings and weened out the bad ones.... and sold them to Russia, China, India, etc. before these countries knew about the problem. And.... the ETF's may have quite a few of these also.

I don't know if there is any truth to the gold plated tungsten bar stories, but it is a fascinating scenario. And if a country does hold alot of these... I doubt that they would admit to it.


Gold and Tungsten

KUCH

And the story continues........ when proven true it would be right up there with Watergate, Climategate and now Tungstengate! Corruption and greed with regards to Tungsten gold bars is becoming the PM investor's "golden egg".

Weiss

If the story is true, which I still think extremely unlikely, it could be a disaster for precious metals. It could cause massive ship-jumping by all major players, especially ETFs.

Who would benefit from this scenario? Any organization (or government) who wants to buy gold.

dimples

Atomic weight of Lead ....... 82
Gold......... 79
Tungsten 74

I don't think so

CaptHenway

It all began when a bar of tungsten was found on a grassy knoll in Dallas..........

clouisejewelers

<< <i>Atomic weight of Lead ....... 82
Gold......... 79
Tungsten 74

I don't think so >>



That's not how it works. The density of pure gold and pure tungsten are both 19.3 g/cc. You are quoting atomic numbers.

PerryHall

I assume the tungsten bars are gold plated. Wouldn't it be easy to cut the edge to check for a silver color? Would the ring test differentiate the two metals? Hang the bar from a wire and tap it with a small hammer.

CaptHenway

If such bars do actually exist, the tungsten inclusion could theoretically only be a 100 oz. core. Or whatever. Would still be profitable for the thief.
TD

roadrunner

Since India was an IMF approved storage nation for IMF gold it's possible or even probable that the gold was already under India's control before they "officially" bought it. They should have been able to spot bogus IMF bars long before now. The more I've read on this subject the less I believe that there are such bars existing in any quantity. Even if India came up with some it would be handled at the IMF level and not information released to anyone else.

I assume the tungsten bars are gold plated. Wouldn't it be easy to cut the edge to check for a silver color? Would the ring test differentiate the two metals? Hang the bar from a wire and tap it with a small hammer.

One could make a tungsten core bar with a generous outer layer of gold (1/4"?) that would have the right s.g., weight, ring tone, etc. Anyone doing detailed ultrasonic, thermal or electrical conductance testing on the bars would notice the difference.

roadrunner

CaptHenway

I wonder if a simple, non-destructive x-ray would detect an inclusion?

PerryHall

<< <i>I wonder if a simple, non-destructive x-ray would detect an inclusion? >>



Since gold is denser than lead, I doubt an X-ray would penetrate sufficiently to "see inside" the bar.

CaptHenway

<< <i>

<< <i>I wonder if a simple, non-destructive x-ray would detect an inclusion? >>



Since gold is denser than lead, I doubt an X-ray would penetrate sufficiently to "see inside" the bar. >>



Not sure how it reacts. When the gold eagles came out in 1986, I flew to New York and came back through airport security with 100 of them in my suit coat pockets and did not set off the metal detectors.

TD

OnlyBuffalos

Where to buy -- www.tungsten-alloy.com/en/alloy11.htm