Can gold float?

[mrmanpig1]

I know this sounds crazy I recently went panning/sluicing with my friend and we kept finding something that looked exactly like gold and handled like it in the pan but then we would put it on our finger to see if thought it was gold for sure and then when we put it back the water picked it and and washed it away and then it would sink again and act like gold again. Could this be from the oil on our finger? Or was it just not gold?

 

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[mytimetoshine]

Yup! Sound like gold to me. When it's on the surface of the water it moves very easily then when the water tension breaks it falls straight down. And doesn't move easily. Try a little dish soap in the pan and it will help

 

[aa battery]

yes in dirty water

 

[digger460]

Only thing I can think of maybe is vermiculite? Is there a mine in the area?

 

[KevinInColorado]

It's gold. Gold is hydrophobic- due to its molecular structure it repels water. When dry it floats well due to good old surface tension.

 

[G-bone]

ABSOLUTELY!!

The more pounded (flat) the gold is too, the easier it will act like a canoe.

That's why you will read everyone recommending JetDry when panning cons or using a re-circulating system at home etc.
It breaks up that surface tension.

Also, I found it best to pre-wet my material before dropping into your sluice.
If your digging dry dirt and bringing it to your sluice in the stream, the dry dirt and any gold it may contain will be very hydrophobic at contact with the water. Not all of it of course, but you'll see some dirt float off and not submerge into the water flow.

I have seen it many times when panning and watch that water slip right underneath a speck and pick it right up and carry it off.
Crazy indeed.

Good luck and let us all know how that Braun unit works.

G

 

[arizau]

Watch the second video on this page for a very full explanation as to how and why gold floats. Gold Mining School - Gold Prospector Training

 

[Jason in Enid]

Absolutely small flat gold LOVES to float. The hardest part about finish panning is separating the materials without floating gold and then dropping it all over the pan and starting over.

 

[nh.nugget]

NH. gold is wicked flat and fine one wrong move and off it goes.

 

[winners58]

Just to be clear on the suggestions on using jet-dry or dish soap
don't use it in or around the stream that's where I get my coffee water

 

[mrmanpig1]

Thanks everyone this is exiting! Can't wait to go down there and sluice again!

 

[beekbuster]

if you touch it with your finger as its floating in the pan it should sink to the bottom, just make sure its not stuck on your finger.