# What is this metal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 28, 2017, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-metal/790095 "2017-06-28T22:59:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 51
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-metal/790095/51 "2017-06-29T19:57:53Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I was thinking more of a connection at a crematorium, He may have been buying them. I think they are about 33% gold. From the MPSIMS “[Ask the Funeral Director who’s a] New Member” [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20310266&postcount=234): > [@\[Ask the Funeral Director who's a\] New Member \[edited title\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-funeral-director-whos-a-new-member-edited-title/584142/234): > > Gold and any non combustible items - such as surgical implants, hardware from the casket, detritus left over from any mementos that the family placed in the casket for cremation - are removed from the bones before the remains are processed to an aggregate substance resembling “ashes” - as to what happens to these items I do know that my local crematory disposes of these items, and I have heard of other crematories donating the metal to a charity for recycling. **It would be unethical for these items to be harvested and sold for profit.** Emphasis added. So, I find it improbable that anyone is harvesting dental amalgam from the deceased. At least, I hope that’s not what’s happening. Unethical. Illegal, at least in [some jurisdictions](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/mortuary-worker-charged-swiping-gold-teeth-article-1.1502089). --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-metal/790095)._