Ribbon cable & IDC connectors

The shiny tines in IDE and floppy ribbon connectors are usually tin, not gold. Look for a warm yellow that hasn't dulled with age; anything pale grey is tin.

Au 0.3–0.8 g/lb (heads only)Cu 15–25% in the cable

eBay typical$2–6per lb

Refiner pays$1.55per lb

Metal in it$0.96per lb at 4 Aug 2026 spot

Confidencelowof the yield figures

How to spot it

Flat multi-conductor cable with insulation-displacement connector heads at each end.

Metal content

Metal	Quantity	Notes
Gold	0.3–0.8 g/lb (heads only)	thin flash on contact tines
Copper	15–25% in the cable

At 4 Aug 2026 spot prices that works out to $0.96 per pound of contained metal — Copper 90 g = $0.96. A refiner paying $1.55 returns about 161% of that, which is normal: refining costs money and the buyer takes a margin.

Safe removal

Working temperature: Cold

Cut the connector heads off and scrap the cable itself as low-grade insulated copper.

The common trap

One of the worst gold sources in all of e-waste, and it's constantly listed on eBay as a gold source.

Questions

How much gold is in ribbon cable & idc connectors?

Gold: 0.3–0.8 g/lb (heads only). Copper: 15–25% in the cable. At current spot that is about $0.96 of contained metal per pound.

How do you identify ribbon cable & idc connectors?

The shiny tines in IDE and floppy ribbon connectors are usually tin, not gold. Look for a warm yellow that hasn't dulled with age; anything pale grey is tin.

How do you remove ribbon cable & idc connectors safely?

Cut the connector heads off and scrap the cable itself as low-grade insulated copper.

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