Is it gold and how to test to make sure

[cheech]

Pick this up today wondering if anybody could tell me for sure if it looks like gold I think it looks like gold I use my fingernail to try to flick it off and I didn't get nothing is there another way to test it without ruining the specimen if it is gold and estimated value on it when it comes to that kind of stuff I have no clue thank you very much for your help

 

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[Skippy SH13]

Off hand, I would say "no." Gold is such a soft metal, that it rarely has hard edges and crystalline structures. While the pictures are decent, it "LOOKS" like there's edges and structure... if that's the case, then its extremely unlikely it's gold.

Of course, if you're interested in testing it, you can get a scratch kit pretty easily off ebay or other sites. You'll take a small amount scratch it across the small surface, and then test the scratch with a small drop of chemical to determine the gold content. I'd start with the lowest carat test, and if it's positive, you're "golden" so to speak.

Iron Pyrite is magnetic... So you might consider trying a magnet on it. If it sticks, nope.

Also, as another test for possible gold content, use a metal detector. If you're getting a signal, at least you know it's metallic, and if it's not magnetic, then your odds are going up. Only way to test for sure is to test for sure, though.

I've seen some odd rocks in my day, that I'd have SWORN weren't gold... but turned out to assay fairly high. Usually, though, with this level of color, it's unlikely to see structure... it'll just be soft and smooth and wonderful.

Skippy

 

[arizau]

Pick this up today wondering if anybody could tell me for sure if it looks like gold I think it looks like gold I use my fingernail to try to flick it off and I didn't get nothing is there another way to test it without ruining the specimen if it is gold and estimated value on it when it comes to that kind of stuff I have no clue thank you very much for your helpView attachment 1198484View attachment 1198485View attachment 1198486View attachment 1198487View attachment 1198488View attachment 1198489View attachment 1198491View attachment 1198492

My first test would be to check for color changes in and out of direct sunlight. Gold will still look like gold in shaded light while other minerals will lose their golden luster. Beyond that, most other methods of determination are destructive to some extent but if you are selective probably not devalue if it is gold. A small scratch with the tip of a knife blade or even a nail maybe. If it powders or chips...not gold.

Good luck

 

[arizau]

For a scratch test use the unglazed side of a piece of tile or the under side of a toilet tank lid. Other than golden color....not gold.

 

[cheech]

No go so what could it be?

 

[arizau]

No go so what could it be?

Your answer lies here. https://www.google.com/webhp?source...B_enUS491US513&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=pyrite
Note that there are several different chemical makeups of pyrite.

 

[ClaimStake]

pyrite that should have copper in it with some silver and gold maybe by the looks of its color.

if you have a bunch of this stuff here's how you get the gold out.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/hard-rock-mining/472462-how-smelt-sulfides-metal-ores.html

 

[motohed]

X2 Iron Pyrite .

 

[pczim]

Looks like some type of Pyrite to me

 

[GrizzlyGremlin]

Where is that from mr cheech? Location is very revealing. I wouldn't worry about it being specimen grade ore. I'm going to stray from iron pyrite. It looks cuperious to me. Chalcopyrite is what I'd guess. I'm no expert, just a rock addict. The last picture shows purple, blue, and black sulfide looking minerals. These could be a host of stuff including bornite, azurite, chalcocite, covellite, or several other sulfide brews.
Like I said if its not a single impressive mineral, or has a large percentage of PGMs I would worry about destroying it. If you chip off a small piece crush it, and pan it it will give you a much more defined answer.

 

[cheech]

Where is that from mr cheech? Location is very revealing. I wouldn't worry about it being specimen grade ore. I'm going to stray from iron pyrite. It looks cuperious to me. Chalcopyrite is what I'd guess. I'm no expert, just a rock addict. The last picture shows purple, blue, and black sulfide looking minerals. These could be a host of stuff including bornite, azurite, chalcocite, covellite, or several other sulfide brews.
Like I said if its not a single impressive mineral, or has a large percentage of PGMs I would worry about destroying it. If you chip off a small piece crush it, and pan it it will give you a much more defined answer.

I picked it up at a estate sale so unsure of location found and I will try to pan apiece of it thanks

 

[Ragnor]

smelt it, I bet you get color.

 

[Ragnor]

A lesson I learned some years ago. Smelting in gold in the presense of tin (Sn) will turn the roast purple. It's a good thing to learn.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_of_Cassius

I think it was Dave Wiseman who pointed that one out to me. (If I'm not mistaken) on the old forum.

That looks like very good ore to me btw. Chalcopyrite with chromium is where the PGE's live.

 

[rockbar]

Just another way to check for gold…..

Here's what I like to do with specimens that possibly contain native gold (especially in the interior of the piece)…. cut it in half, preferably with a proper lapidary saw.

I can't tell you how many hundreds of rocks I have done this with to look for gold mineralization. I call it my lapidary assay.

When a saw blade cuts through gold, it will smear it and accentuate it to where it can be seen. Even tiny, tiny specs of native gold can be seen with the eye or a 10X loupe if the piece is tilted in the proper angle to the light source. You will be causing the polished gold face to act as a mirror. The sun or any bright light source will reflect the light back to you. The problem is that until you have done this a few times, other mineralization (like chalcopyrite) might fool you. I have done this to look for native silver, also. It also acts as a very strong reflector or mirror.

Your piece looks like chalcopyrite, as others have mentioned. That doesn't mean that there isn't native gold present somewhere in the mineralization.
Crushing and careful panning half of the specimen is a good tried and true method.