Gold or pyrite

[Coin Head]

I'm usually pretty good at telling them apart but I'm kinda baffled from this one I always go by the rule gold is spongebob yellow but this is that color but almost seems to shiny to be gold what do y'all think

 

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[aa battery]

gold i think

 

[arizau]

If you are not checking color in full AND in shaded light then you need to do that. Pyrites and the like may have a shiny gold color in full light but the yellow disappears in shaded light......gold will still look like gold/yellow in color, no matter the lighting.

Good luck.

 

[huntsman53]

It sure looks like Gold under magnification but without seeing it in person, there is no way I can be sure. Pick a spot with a solid well formed piece of Gold or Pyrite and press a sharp punch, screw driver or tip of a knife blade into it. If it shatters or flakes, it is not Gold. If it dents but does not shatter or flake, then it is likely Gold.


Frank

 

[Golden_Crab]

crush & pan

 

[Laz7777]

and a 3rd thought...maybe it's both gold and pyrite (pyritic gold).
I've seen samples of pyritic gold, not certain what the proper way to test would be.

 

[Assembler]

and a 3rd thought...maybe it's both gold and pyrite (pyritic gold).
I've seen samples of pyritic gold, not certain what the proper way to test would be.

A better reason to crush and pan. Good idea to do some screening as well and pan each screen size after running a magnet over it.

 

[StreamlineGold]

It could be chalcopyrite. More of a yellow color
Than normal iron pyrite from the copper content but may also contain gold.. worth a crush and pan or fire assay