2 nuggets 2 different locations and not sure what it is

[yankeevicjim]

I found one on the north fork salmon river and about 7 months later my brother found the other one on the north fork american river they are not magnetic and one weighs 1.8g the other weighs 2.3g they seem extremly light for their size any help would be appreiciated..

 

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[Lanny in AB]

Maybe approach it like a mechanic does when trouble-shooting--try to figure out what it's not.

So, if it's light for its size--it's not platinum. It's also not gold, due to the weight and the color.

Since it's gray, but not heavy, it's not lead.

Next, you may want to read up on how to do a streak test (for minerals) on the Internet--that may help eliminate other things.

What are the nuggets' electronic signatures (detector response) like (highly conductive, etc)?

If you rule out the heavy materials, that leaves the lighter metals (tin, aluminum, pot metal, etc.).

I've found all kinds of things while dredging: bits of aluminum, pot metal, brass, copper, natural and refined lead--almost everything imaginable got into the streams during the gold rushes. If the river is subject to wide swings in flow fluctuations, the stream materials could take almost any malleable metal and hammer it into a nugget.

Good luck, and I hope you find out what it is, and if you do be sure to post your findings.

All the best,

Lanny

 

[Hoser John]

Tin globs are quite common. What you need to test is hardness and specific gravity to tell exactly what it is. There is also a acid test too--too early in the am to remember which and how-John

 

[Lanny in AB]

That would fit John--tin would be left on the list.

All the best,

Lany