text: In contrast to the use of mercury (which relies on amalgamation of the gold to coalesce it and separate it from impurities) this method relies on boraxs ability to lower all the minerals melting points. Since the gold is usually the heaviest of these minerals, it allows for concentrating the gold on the bottom of the crucible. The process requires considerably less heat than conventional refining methods, which can be obtainable even in remote locations (using charcoal).
  After the ore is crushed into a fine powder, its lightly panned to leave only the heaviest minerals in the pan. Its then thoroughly mixed by three times (by volume) as much of borax and a few drops of water. This mixture is then heated until the whole mixture is molten, after which molten droplets of gold collect on the bottom of the crucible.