how do you identify metals

[berti]

 

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[Plumbata]

Well, you can test the hardness of the metal or alloy with a knife, then you can weigh it with an accurate scale, and then with a graduated cylinder or measuring beaker perform a water displacement test to determine the rough density (grams per cubic centimeter) of the item. You can also test it with Hydrochloric acid and Nitric acid, etc, to rule-out (or in) certain metals further. I'm not sure if I am looking at a strange mineral specimen (such as Galena / Lead Sulphide, which is very dense/heavy), or pyrite/chalcopyrite pictured in odd light, or a blob of amorphous Zinc melted in a fire years ago, or...?

Asking how to "identify metals" is like asking someone to transcribe the Encyclopedia Britannica. If it is an unpaid request no one will trouble themselves with the gargantuan task. It would be much more productive if you provided some useful details to narrow down the realm of inquiry a bit.

 

[berti]

Thanks for all the great info, think im going to do some research on all of this, ive owned a metal detector for 10yrs and just now decided to try it.

 

[KONO]

Some have been known to lick or smell it, the old timers do both

 

[Davers]

It's a bit$@ esp, with alloys ,I wish we all could afford one of those hand held [zappers] that they use at my local recycling yard. Brass , copper ,lead ,pure cast aluminium can be pretty strait forward but as I said other alloys [ not so easy]

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

Lots of way's you can tell.... Copper is red when scratched, lead turns white after awhile, Aluminum is really lite, Iron is magnetic, silver and gold won't corrode... Water displacement tests and acid tests are good too. You pick up these things and learn them as you go !!

Keep @ it and HH !!

 

[berti]

Thanks for the knowledge I got a mp3 digital detector that only seems to fins trash, gonna have to look into a gettin a good detector.