A video of gold being made from discarded SIM chips is heating up China’s online community. It is spreading into a debate over authenticity and safety, with experts warning of the dangers of strong chemical action.
According to Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post (SCMP), a man from Guangdong Province, China, claimed to have obtained 191 grams of gold using an abandoned SIM card last month.
The man said he treated the SIM card with chemicals and repeated the process of corrosion and heating to extract residue mixed with gold. The video clip that contains the entire process of refining gold with SIM cards has more than 5 million views in just one day of posting.
He showed 191 grams of gold on the palm of his hand, which is worth about 200,000 yuan.
However, experts questioned his claim. It is generally known that the amount of gold contained in a SIM card is less than 0.001g. According to this calculation, at least hundreds of thousands of cards are needed to obtain more than 190g of gold.
SCMP reported that the impact of the video immediately led to a market reaction. It is said that a series of postings selling lung SIM cards have been posted on local second-hand trading platforms, and some sellers have launched bundle sales with the phrase “available for alchemy.”
Local experts have warned that it is very dangerous for an individual to follow this process as it is. The mixture used to dissolve the gold can produce toxic gases with just a small mistake. Experts warned that it could lead to serious chemical accidents. In addition, gold tablets and distributions are strictly controlled in China, according to the media. Waste SIM cards are also classified as hazardous electronic waste. It was reported that gold extraction without permission could result in a fine of up to 500,000 yuan or imprisonment.
As the controversy spread, the man in question gave further explanations. “The waste of electronic components used in this refining amounts to about 2 tons,” he said. “Gold is not only from SIM cards, but also from a mixture of various chip wastes generated in the telecommunications and electronics industry.”
The purpose of the video was not to show off alchemy, but to share the work process and introduce technical principles, he said. “Unlike yourself with legal procedures and expertise, it is very dangerous for ordinary people to follow it without permission.”
SAM KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
