Help with id.

[chriseneim]

Weird rock I found in Arizona. It is super heavy and my falcon md20 goes crazy when close to it. Non magnetic and has a shiny luster

 

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[Ragnor]

ugly brown nugget? Looks small enough to do a specific gravity test on pretty easily.

 

[chriseneim]

I know that's what I was thinking ha how do u do the density test ?

 

[chriseneim]

I mean gravity test haha

 

[Eu_citzen]

Give it a whack with a hammer and let us see a "fresh" surface.

 

[DDancer]

I'd try a streak test first. It looks like a dull gold nugget. I'm bumping a thread into the Gold Prospecting Metal detection forum for it.
Streak test is yellow~ gold. If so looks like an ounce or better

 

[H-2 CHARLIE]

Wow .. thats a very nice GOLD nugget dude . Wt.?

 

[Ragnor]

You weigh the sample on a scale, then you set up a container of water on the scale that you can submerge the sample in. Tare the weight of the water and container. Then you suspend the sample by a thread, submerge it in the water on the scale and take that weight. Sample must not touch sides or bottom. You divide the weight in air by the weight in water that yields Specific Gravity. I prefer to hang the sample from a stick or whatever that spans between two quart jars for a nice steady reading.

I know that's what I was thinking ha how do u do the density test ?

 

[dinx]

I would use a magic eraser on it- then you will see quickly-

 

[Lanny in AB]

Does the Falcon sound off as you approach the target and continue to increase in tone until you reach your item in question? Or, does it give a signal as you cross your item but blank as you cross it, or does the signal increase as you pull away from your item?

You've been given the instructions on how to do a specific gravity test; that will tell you something.

Does your item conduct an electric current (voltmeter)?

I'd do the streak test on a piece of unglazed porcelain tile (Google it) as well as has been suggested.

If you have the remotest idea it could be a nugget, do not whack it with a hammer!

All the best,

Lanny

 

[meMiner]

What will the magic eraser do?

I concur, do not use a hammer.

The streak test is worthwhile. An acid test will also tell you something important. Any jeweler could do that for you quickly - it is a scratch on black slate and they put a drop of acid to see if the streak on the slate dissolves.

 

[Ragnor]

Yep, don't whack it with a hammer. I smashed a nice ball of crystaline gold into a pile of gold powder one time because it just didnt look right. Yep, it was gold. I wish I hadn't done that, lol

 

[Terry Soloman]

Why haven't you taken it to your local jeweler and asked them to do an acid test? They usually don't charge you.

 

[GreyGhost]

What is the weight in grams/ounces?
Considering it may be a nice, big gold nugget covered in a dull "desert patina", I'd be hesitant to even do a scratch test on it.
Desert patina is unique to our region.
A lot of nuggets recovered from places like California and Alaska are found with a slight shine on them due to being water worn from active streams. Or they were found in old tailings and they've already gone through some machinery like an old dredge and they've already picked up some scratches and wear.
Was it even found in a gold producing area? What part of the state is it from?

 

[GreyGhost]

On the other hand if your detector is going nuts on it, it might just be a hot rock! Sure doesn't look like gold, just doesn't have that metallic sheen. Looks like a rock to me.

 

[Goldwasher]

What does it weigh. if it's a nugget it will be more than an ounce two even. It looks pretty dull. It barely takes being in your pocket or a rub from a leathr glove too reveal very quickly that you have a nugget. Looks like an orange brown rock. Maybe high in iron but, it could just be the lighting.

 

[RockerFerg]

Well, if you need a photo comparison to help here is my 1 ounce gold bar.

 

[chriseneim]

It weighs 33 grams

 

[chriseneim]

Yea i think it's some kind of sand stone

 

[DDancer]

Pictures are hard to analyze and what can look great can be a dud Thats why I bumped it to others to see their take. I've seen gold look just like the specimen your showing. However it'll help ya in the future to take a look at various testing methods, some described, to identify your finds and help others out in identifying finds. Good luck.