Is this My Gold or is it a Fools Gold?

[Audigger123]

Is this My Gold or is it a Fool's Gold?

Hey guys. I sluiced about 10 gallons of material. It's never been tested or anything like that, and it comes from a pit. It's a dark sand. Upon close inspection you can see hints of shine in the dirt. It's mostly fine rocks.
I started to pan what was left of the 10 gallons of material I ran, keep in mind I have no experience and everything including my sluice and pan are homemade based on DIY's found on this very forum, and I've recovered the flakes that make the sand shine. Whether or not it's gold, I have no idea. I was hoping if you guys could help me identify exactly what it is. If you have any questions or would like more pictures let me know. I plan on getting it tested, but I'm going to be way to busy for at least a week.. Thanks guys. Click on the second last photo to see a larger version, it's the largest flakes I have found.

 

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[KevinInColorado]

Looks like it could be gold. Does it stay the same color in the shade as in the light or turn brown? Same is good, gold doesn't change colors. How does it move in the pan compared to other stuff when you swirl the water around? Gold is more dense than most everything else so it will sit still when other stuff starts to move when you swirl the water around. What happens if you press down on it with a screwdriver tip...gold won't shatter or crush, other stuff will.

Pass these tests and you can be pretty confident you have gold.

 

[DizzyDigger]

Did the best I could to enhance the image. Unfortunately,
there's only so much you can do to sharpen an out-of-focus
image, but desaturating the blue background seemed to bring
out the gold color best.



If I had the slightest doubt I'd take a knife edge to one of those
flakes and make sure. The largest gold flake looks legit, but I've
got a doubt about a couple of the others. Only way to know is
test it and see if it splits/cracks under pressure.

 

[Audigger123]

Did the best I could to enhance the image. Unfortunately,
there's only so much you can do to sharpen an out-of-focus
image, but desaturating the blue background seemed to bring
out the gold color best.

View attachment 985862

If I had the slightest doubt I'd take a knife edge to one of those
flakes and make sure. The largest gold flake looks legit, but I've
got a doubt about a couple of the others. Only way to know is
test it and see if it splits/cracks under pressure.

Wow! Thanks DizzyDigger for all the work you put into your reply. I'll try to get some better pictures to upload. Thanks for the input, I'll try testing it with a knife/hammer/screwdriver and get back to you!

 

[goldhog]

Easy test for you.........
Take a pin....... yes like a sewing or clothing pin.
Press the point into the metal.
If you hear "click" and it "disappears" it's not gold.
(Good luck finding it again.)
If it sticks in it, it probably is.
Wear safety glasses and use a magnifying glass.
Pyrite is very hard like steel. The piece will usually fly away.
Doc

 

[benny]

This is what I have to do to take pictures of my gold.

How to build cheap macro lens - Imgur

 

[DDancer]

Another way is to get a hard flat surface, build a barrier like placing a smooth piece of cloth around the area, and putting the sample in the middle. Then roll a table spoon over it very firmly. If it shatters it pyrite. The barrier is to keep the specimen from flying off as you roll the spoon over it. the needle trick works as well but do it in the pan for the barrier. A smooth cloth.... well if it flies a terry cloth might not want to give it back and if it flies you can put the cloth in the pan and get your bit back.

if you have a metal pan you can do the same thing.

 

[DesertNuggets]

This is what I have to do to take pictures of my gold.

How to build cheap macro lens - Imgur

Great tip! Thanks.

 

[DizzyDigger]

Good tip Benny! (nice trichomes, btw, but looks like a
couple more weeks before it's "done")

I don't even own an Iphone, and still use my outdated
LG..lol Definitely worth a try for those that want a decent
close-up without a macro lens.

 

[Gold Maven]

Radio Shack sells a 30x pocket microscope for about ten bucks, you will find it a big help.

Also put a little dish washing soap in the water you are panning in to break the surface tension, the way it is beading up in those pics the fine gold can be picked up and float right out of your pan.

Good Luck.

 

[Jeff95531]

This is what I have to do to take pictures of my gold.

How to build cheap macro lens - Imgur

Thanks Benny! Way cool and dirt cheap!

 

[KevinInColorado]

Radio Shack sells a 30x pocket microscope for about ten bucks, you will find it a big help. Also put a little dish washing soap in the water you are panning in to break the surface tension, the way it is beading up in those pics the fine gold can be picked up and float right out of your pan. Good Luck.

This is a bit of a sidebar but Jetdry (or generic version) for automatic dishwashers is better than dish soap since you'll get less bubbles with the Jetdry.

Great tip on the cheap pocket microscopes!

 

[gold tramp]

A little nitric acid on your sample, should remove any doubt as to what you have. All seasoned prospectors should have this in their field kit along with your eye glass, it saves a lot of time trying to figure out what you have in your pan. As with any chemical safety.
Hope this helps n goodluck.
GT.....

 

[CApicker]

yep that looks like Gold! possibly some mercury coated pieces or if you are lucky a flake or 2 of Platinum? anyway save it all... I have thrown out me precious stuff not knowing what it was...

 

[benny]

After getting the macro lense built, all you need is one of these pennies to put next to your gold.

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTA2NFgxNjAw/z/x~AAAMXQRDxREWFi/$%28KGrHqJ,!o!FEIYd%28SFUBREWFhlwCQ~~60_35.JPG

 

[Audigger123]

Thanks for all the input guys! Stay tuned because I just may have a macro lens kicking around and I'm planning on uploading some higher res photos here tomorrow

 

[highdesertranger]

gold tramp where do you get nitric acid in kalifornia. you an pm me if you like. I can't find it locally and shipping kills you. highdesertranger

 

[highdesertranger]

oh yeah audigger looks like gold to me do the knife/needle test. highdesertranger

 

[kazcoro]

That's gold. The black pieces, not so sure, but there are about 15-20 pieces of gold in that pan.

 

[Ace 250]

Looks like it could be gold. Does it stay the same color in the shade as in the light or turn brown? Same is good, gold doesn't change colors. How does it move in the pan compared to other stuff when you swirl the water around? Gold is more dense than most everything else so it will sit still when other stuff starts to move when you swirl the water around. What happens if you press down on it with a screwdriver tip...gold won't shatter or crush, other stuff will.

Pass these tests and you can be pretty confident you have gold.

It does change colors if gold the has a deferint metal .like copper and gold change it to a rose gold