Gold flakes in slate?

[FreeBirdTim]

Is it possible to find gold flakes in slate? I found a small rock the other day and it has gold colored flakes on it. Doesn't appear to be iron pyrite, but not positive. Can you find gold flakes in slate? I live in Rhode island and there's not much gold around here, so I'm doubtful that it's gold.

Lousy pics, but maybe you can see the flakes on it.

 

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[Chilli]

Yes today there are GPS units that will take a photo with all of the cordinance information in a single file. This can help one to track the intersection of rocks or contact zone in general.

In your examples I'm thinking the quartz is the important carrier mineral. In some locations it can be sulfides and perhaps some silica as a fluxing agent. The point is that no two areas are going to be the same mineral soup mix in the thermal flow mix.

Thank you for the photos Chilli.

The one I wish I kept was a lump of quartz with blue/black slate about twice the size of a fist. In the quartz was a hollow about the size of a tom bowler marble or a bit bigger. Criss crossing in all directions were easy 2 dozen fine wires of gold a bit thinner than cotton threads all contacting the quartz one side to the other but none of them contacting each other. I had no appreciation back then of what I had found. I destroyed quite a number of, I know now but was a green horn then, quite unique rare specimens.

 

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[Assembler]

The one I wish I kept was a lump of quartz with blue/black slate about twice the size of a fist. In the quartz was a hollow about the size of a tom bowler marble or a bit bigger. Criss crossing in all directions were easy 2 dozen fine wires of gold a bit thinner than cotton threads all contacting the quartz one side to the other but none of them contacting each other. I had no appreciation back then of what I had found. I destroyed quite a number of, I know now but was a green horn then, quite unique rare specimens.

Yep that wire gold is harder to find.

 

[Assembler]

The one I wish I kept was a lump of quartz with blue/black slate about twice the size of a fist. In the quartz was a hollow about the size of a tom bowler marble or a bit bigger. Criss crossing in all directions were easy 2 dozen fine wires of gold a bit thinner than cotton threads all contacting the quartz one side to the other but none of them contacting each other. I had no appreciation back then of what I had found. I destroyed quite a number of, I know now but was a green horn then, quite unique rare specimens.

I have seen human hair size to thread size wire however not very long wires within rock usually going from one area to another contact area.
I could make attempts to slab the area with a rock saw to help show the wires?

 

[Assembler]

The one I wish I kept was a lump of quartz with blue/black slate about twice the size of a fist. In the quartz was a hollow about the size of a tom bowler marble or a bit bigger. Criss crossing in all directions were easy 2 dozen fine wires of gold a bit thinner than cotton threads all contacting the quartz one side to the other but none of them contacting each other. I had no appreciation back then of what I had found. I destroyed quite a number of, I know now but was a green horn then, quite unique rare specimens.

It appears that you have found a number of golden 'Threads long enough to sew with'.............



PS. be careful what you 'Sew' as you never know what you will reap / catch later on....................I better 'Sew this up' before I get the point of the needle........

Thanks for describing what you have found in the past.

 

[JericoAndHercules]

Scraped some off and it floated in water, so not gold! Thanks for the help, guys.

Gold is Hydrophobic. Gold also floats. It is probably mica, but it could also contain gold. There is gold in RI.

 

[JericoAndHercules]

I have seen human hair size to thread size wire however not very long wires within rock usually going from one area to another contact area.
I could make attempts to slab the area with a rock saw to help show the wires?

Sounds like you are talking about rutile which is not AU. Gold in color but not AU.

 

[Chilli]

Sounds like you are talking about rutile which is not AU. Gold in color but not AU.

Mine was 100% gold, no iffs or buts. It even bent not broke when pushed.
I know it was gold 100% and is why I kick myself. Such is life.😕

 

[Assembler]

Sounds like you are talking about rutile which is not AU. Gold in color but not AU.

I have run into both titanium dioxide that may have a little iron as well as gold threads.
When you take steel edge to gold there is no mistake and the titanium is either white or can be redish depending on how much iron.

 

[Mine Shaft]

Hold it in the shade and if it still has the shine then most likely Gold.

 

[Assembler]

Hold it in the shade and if it still has the shine then most likely Gold.

Good idea.
Slabbing the area could make some pretty jewelry rock if the area is big enough.

 

[Assembler]

Good idea.
Slabbing the area could make some pretty jewelry rock if the area is big enough.

You likely could trade or get more then the weight of gold if the rock is made into a broch or earrings etc.. Anyone trade on Facebook or Craigs listing out there?

 

[Assembler]

I have run into zones of flour values that switch to short wire in the rock. This can make a interesting slab if cut right. Looks like I have some learning to do as far as using the rock saw (just starting to cut).
The amount of value in the rock is not that much in weight however a nice slab is a different story.