[Deteknix Quest] Cheap and free ways to determine if your finds are real Gold/Silver!

pgfhgs

Sr. Member
Dec 23, 2014
255
141
Sedona AZ
Detector(s) used
Whites V3i, AT Pro, Ace 250, Tesoro, Teknetics, Bounty Hunter EQ 800
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I already get enough weird looks and now you want me to spit in foil and carry make-up. ...............:)
 

cudamark

Gold Member
Top Banner Poster
Mar 16, 2011
13,173
14,462
San Diego
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
3
Detector(s) used
XP Deus 2, Equinox 800/900, Fisher Impulse AQ, E-Trac, 3 Excal 1000's, White's TM808, VibraProbe, 15" NEL Attack, Mi6, Steath 920ix and 720i scoops, TRX, etc....
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I already get enough weird looks and now you want me to spit in foil and carry make-up. ...............:)
And smelling like rotten eggs isn't going to help my image either! :laughing7:
 

flyadive

Bronze Member
Jun 11, 2012
2,192
1,535
NJ
Detector(s) used
Whites
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Selsun blue for silver also does something ?
 

T.C.

Bronze Member
May 17, 2012
2,417
3,796
Kalamity Falls, Orygun
Detector(s) used
Whites M6
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Put an ice cube on the silver and watch it melt!! I tried the spit test and it didn't work...
 

T.C.

Bronze Member
May 17, 2012
2,417
3,796
Kalamity Falls, Orygun
Detector(s) used
Whites M6
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All Treasure Hunting
I ordered a tester kit from ebay....it's on the way!! It was only $13 and some change....free shipping:headbang: I'll give the "ol' spit" test another try.
 

Bquamb

Hero Member
Dec 29, 2014
561
511
Vancouver Island
Detector(s) used
CTX 3030, EQ 800, AT-Pro, Xterra-505
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Bahahh Skippy, You stole my post - Guess ill have to say --- What he said. :P
 

T.C.

Bronze Member
May 17, 2012
2,417
3,796
Kalamity Falls, Orygun
Detector(s) used
Whites M6
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
That's a bummer. I didn't think to include the pewter test (vs. Silver). I'll add it in above, but if you want to check for pewter, run it across a white piece of paper. It'll leave a grey streak.. Silver won't do that.

Sorry to hear, but there you go. And see! The spit test did work!
Just did the paper test.....didn't work:dontknow:
 

T.C.

Bronze Member
May 17, 2012
2,417
3,796
Kalamity Falls, Orygun
Detector(s) used
Whites M6
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
As noted: "Not all pewter makes the mark (Pewter isn't a fixed alloy combination), but most do. It helps rule out those that are definitely pewter. "

Essentially, sir, your pewter is made without lead.

I still like the test, because of the "negative" aspect. Kind of like if a magnet sticks, it ain't silver... It doesn't mean if the magnet doesn't stick it IS Silver... it's just one good test.

In this case, if you can draw like you're playing with an Etch-a-Sketch, you don't have silver! I use this in the thrift stores to check things like cups, bowls, and candlesticks (and some decorations), because spitting on a product and wrapping it in aluminum foil is generally frowned upon! :laughing7:

Bummer that it didn't work out that it was a chunk of silver, but like most experiences in life, hopefully, it was a memorable bit of fun (Tragedy + Time = Humor). Hopefully, you can look back on this and get a good chuckle.
Sir?? C'mon Skippy, that's for 'ol farts!! Also, thanks for the schooling.....sir:laughing7:
 

ChampFerguson/TN

Bronze Member
Nov 22, 2013
1,181
1,620
TN
Detector(s) used
Minelab Safari .......... Minelab Excalibur II ....... ........Minelab CTX 3030
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Sorry to be picky, but silver is diamagnetic, not dimagnetic.
You can often hold the silver item in your hand and feel the repulsion on the neo magnet if the magnet is strong enough.
 

deteknix

Full Member
Jul 22, 2013
137
136
Covina, CA
Detector(s) used
Explorer XS Pro-pointer
Ace 350
White's 6000DI pro
Rangar
Tesoro Cortes
Bounty Hunter Camo LS
Primary Interest:
Beach & Shallow Water Hunting
Hi Skippy SH13. Thanks for your attending the contest. We will sent out the XPointer Diver.
 

BigWaveDave

Gold Member
Nov 22, 2013
9,307
16,929
Mountain Maryland
🥇 Banner finds
2
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
4
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Pro, AT Max, Minelab
Equinox 800
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Congratulations Skippy...you had a great post...you deserve it!
 

QMaze

Sr. Member
Aug 3, 2015
325
148
Windsor, ON
Detector(s) used
Fisher 1235-X |
Garrett Infinium LS
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Thanks BigWaveDave! I get to join the winners of contests! Woot! Woot! Is there a special golden doored bathroom I get to use? :)

Have you had a chance to use your Detector, yet?

Congrats Skippy. :laughing7:

I don't think hes received anything yet from Deteknix, from what I read, I could be wrong.
 

BigWaveDave

Gold Member
Nov 22, 2013
9,307
16,929
Mountain Maryland
🥇 Banner finds
2
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
4
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Pro, AT Max, Minelab
Equinox 800
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Should be any day now...good thing too, my AT Pro is getting wore out this week!
 

SeabeeRon

Bronze Member
Aug 5, 2007
2,068
2,041
Santa Cruz, CA.
Detector(s) used
ML Sov GT; Whites MXT & Surf PI Pro
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
You guys let us know when you get your machines!
 

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LawrencetheMDer

Hero Member
Feb 22, 2014
978
2,386
Ohio and Florida
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
2
Detector(s) used
Minelab Manticore, Minelab CTX3030 w 11" and 17" DD coils,
Minelab Excalibur II w 10" coil, Equinox 800 (4) w 11" and 15" coils,
Troy Shadow x2 w 7" coil, Pointers; Garrett Carrot, Pro Find 35,
Primary Interest:
Beach & Shallow Water Hunting
OK... so this one is too complicated for the main post, but if you're interested in how to measure the density of jewelry to determine if it's "legitimate" gold... here's the equations
First off, remember that: Density = mass/volume . In this case, we're going to measure volume as "displaced" volume (drop in a vial of liquid and measure the rise. To do this, obviously, you need some sort of measuring device, or graduated cylinder. Unlikely many of us have these laying around, BUT, you might have a small medicine cup that will do the trick!

After you calculate the mass/volume, a result close to 19 g/ml indicates either real gold, or at least is constructed of a material similar in density to gold.

An example:

Your gold item weighs 19 g and it displaces 1 milliliter of water. Using the formula of [mass (19 g)]/[volume displacement (1 ml)], your result would be 19 g/ml, which is very close to the density of gold.
Bear in mind that different gold purity will have a different g/ml ratio:
14K – 12.9 to 14.6 g/ml
18K yellow – 15.2 to 15.9 g/ml
18K white – 14.7 to 16.9 g/ml
22K – 17.7 to 17.8 g/ml

Hope this helps if you get in a bind and need to test density!

Skippy

I think I'll buy an acid tester.
 

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