Chalcopyrite, sylvanite, calaverite?

[robzom27]

Any guesses? Sounds off with my md20 metal detector. I can scrape it out of the rock with a metal pick. Lots of pressure to scrape it out. Comes off as shavings and small soft pieces. Can't scrape it off with my fingernail though. Nothing like a picker. I detect around old silver and gold mines. They are known for copper as well. I have crushed and panned but the yellow/brassy mineral isn't as heavy as flour gold i have found before. It still settles in with the black sands in my gold pan. I prospect in southern California in the desert areas. My guess is Chalcopyrite but it just looks a little different. Any help would be appreciated. Anybody have any experience with sylvanite or calaverite? Thanks, Rob....

 

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[arizau]

Any guesses? Sounds off with my md20 metal detector. I can scrape it out of the rock with a metal pick. Lots of pressure to scrape it out. Comes off as shavings and small soft pieces. Can't scrape it off with my fingernail though. Nothing like a picker. I detect around old silver and gold mines. They are known for copper as well. I have crushed and panned but the yellow/brassy mineral isn't as heavy as flour gold i have found before. It still settles in with the black sands in my gold pan. I prospect in southern California in the desert areas. My guess is Chalcopyrite but it just looks a little different. Any help would be appreciated. Anybody have any experience with sylvanite or calaverite? Thanks, Rob....

Looks like iron pyrite to me. If so, those pieces you chip out will likely stick to a strong magnet.

 

[robzom27]

Looks like iron pyrite to me. If so, those pieces you chip out will likely stick to a strong magnet.

nonmagnetic, but thanks for the reply.

 

[robzom27]

My md20 metal detector also discriminates pretty easily against iron pyrite.