Gold Telluride......

patraney

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Jun 7, 2015
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I have access to tons of this stuff.....Calaverite/Telluride.... I posted a lot of pics in Todays Finds..... What is this one piece worth? It is a little over 2.5 inches wide and weighs 110 grams.... Thanks
 

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kcm

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If you're talking "tons" as in "thousands and thousands of pounds", then send a sample off for assay. If the results come back good, then either find a place that can process the ore and keep the majority of its worth, or learn how to break down the minerals to separate the gold. ...Seems like Sulfuric acid is used, but I could be mistaken.
 

hvacker

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Don't handle it too much or your hands will smell like garlic... I've been told.
 

seekerGH

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Spec gravity is 9.1-9.3, so check that first. Calaverite/gold telluride can be dissolved in most acids and some alkalides, such as sulfuric acid. In hot sulfuric acid the mineral dissolves, leaving a spongy mass of gold in a red solution of tellurium.

Do that outside, good luck and hope you found a bunch.
 

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hvacker

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Calaverite is often passed over because it resembles pyrite.
Calaverite has a gold streak while pyrite is brown black to greenish black.
You could try that.
 

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