Amalgam (chemistry) miners seeking gold nuggets with the aid of an engine-powered water vacuum mounted on a float. Where stamp mills were used to crush gold-bearing ore to fines, a part of the extraction process involved the use of mercury-wetted copper plates, over which the crushed fines were washed. A periodic scraping and re-mercurizing of the plate resulted in amalgam for further processing. Amalgam obtained by either process was then heated in a distillation retort, recovering the mercury for reuse and leaving behind the gold. As this released mercury vapors to the atmosphere, the process could induce adverse health effects and long
Amalgam Digital in hip hop music and distribution. In an April 2008 issue, "The Source" proclaimed that Amalgam Digital has "its finger on the pulse of hip-hop's future." Based in East Boston, the Amalgam Digital label is distributed exclusively by Amalgam Entertainment LLC, a distribution company that offers management, marketing, and promotional services. As an independent label, Amalgam Digital been home to such artists as Max B, Saigon, Curren$y, Chuuwee, Joe Budden, Peedi Crakk, Tash, Kurious, Juggaknots, Tame One, and Lil B. Joe Budden's album released by the label, "Padded Room", reached #42 in the "Billboard" 200 chart and #21 in the