An Ounce Gold Charm?

[Hogtown Hunter]

I went searching around a park today with my brother. Found this Mother Mary/Baby Jesus charm about 8-10" deep so it had been in the ground for awhile. My first thought was costume jewelry because of the color. Though it did have some weight to it. Once I got back to the truck I scraped it with a file just to see what the base metal looked like. If anything I thought it could be some badly tarnished silver but after scratching it I see a "gold" color. I get home and start to clean the dirt off and see a 14k mark on back. I'm thinking no way gold doesn't tarnish like this but this was some rough soil. The coins I found were orange in color. I Do an acid test and maybe yall can weigh in here but the left line is the 10k and looks like it is still there and the right line is 14k acid and the line has disappeared. So it may be between 10-14k? I did electrolysis on it for about three hours and it did get more gold colored but has a rose tint to it. Also did a lighter test on charm with no change in color to metal. What do y'all think? Any other ways to test? Thanks
Sorry. Most pics have turned sideways but once you click on them they're upright

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Minelab PRO-FIND 35 Waterproof Pinpointer Metal Detector for Experts with Tone ID & Adjustable Sensitivity - Grab it through Amazon!

[galenrog]

10K gold is a 41.6% gold alloy. Much of the alloy is copper. Other metals could include silver. In adverse soil conditions many colors on the surface can occur.

14K gold is a 58.3% gold alloy. Less copper than 10K, but still a significant amount. Can still present a wide variety of colors after prolonged exposure to adverse conditions.

What are adverse conditions? Over decades, it could be something as innocent as high humidity. Acidic soils can easily cause non-gold metals in the alloy to oxidize to some degree. Sulphur, even trace amounts in soils can also
cause non-gold metals to attain various colors. Many other compounds in soil and air can cause surface color changes.

Have fun.

Time for more coffee.

 

[Hogtown Hunter]

10K gold is a 41.6% gold alloy. Much of the alloy is copper. Other metals could include silver. In adverse soil conditions many colors on the surface can occur.

14K gold is a 58.3% gold alloy. Less copper than 10K, but still a significant amount. Can still present a wide variety of colors after prolonged exposure to adverse conditions.

What are adverse conditions? Over decades, it could be something as innocent as high humidity. Acidic soils can easily cause non-gold metals in the alloy to oxidize to some degree. Sulphur, even trace amounts in soils can also
cause non-gold metals to attain various colors. Many other compounds in soil and air can cause surface color changes.

Have fun.

Time for more coffee.

Thank you sir! This soil is highly sulfuric. May be the culprit. Time for more beer.

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

A very nice find !

 

[Digger RJ]

Very Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[jewelerguy]

dang nice find if it turns out to be genuine. 14k at that weight is pushing nearly 1,000 bucks for melt value. Go back and find the chain!

 

[gunsil]

That's an ounce avoirdupois, or a hair over, not an ounce troy. Very nice find but if the 14k doesn't test out as such it may be a heavily plated piece with a counterfeit mark.

 

[Gene Mean]

Congrats! That's a nice good luck charm.

 

[beepbleep]

That must be an unsearched park you found. What a gold mine.

 

[Hogtown Hunter]

dang nice find if it turns out to be genuine. 14k at that weight is pushing nearly 1,000 bucks for melt value. Go back and find the chain!

I decided to take some 400 grit sandpaper to the bottom side of it. Then some 1500 grit to polish it. The rose looking tarnish comes right out. Its definitely sweet yellow gold. Tested again on sanded area twice and it was positive at 10k. Negative again at 14k. I'll take to my coin/ jewelry dealer this week. If it is 10k it would be about $700.

 

[FallColors]

Here's hoping it's the real deal.

 

[SCpicker]

That's an ounce avoirdupois, or a hair over, not an ounce troy. Very nice find but if the 14k doesn't test out as such it may be a heavily plated piece with a counterfeit mark.

I hate to say it but that is exactly what this piece is. Counterfeit. Nothing is right about. 10k test acid is quite inconsistent. I’ve seen brass and other non precious metals pass the 10k acid test. Use 14k acid and look closely. The scratch will fade a very dull brown instantly but will remain if actually 10k gold. If it completely disappears it is not gold. Good luck and happy hunting.

 

[islamoradamark]

if thats gold thats a big chunk congrats

 

[Fossils]

You could try calculating the density if you find the volume through water displacement. 10k gold has a density of about 11.6 g/ml. If you’re getting a density of about 8.4 g/ml then you have gold plated brass.

 

[Joe-Dirt]

Very nice!!! It’s the OTHER kind of Gainesville gold (;

 

[TannersHatch]

Awesome find!