Found gold... I think?

Sal17

Newbie
Mar 13, 2022
2
3
Hi guys!

My first post here. I've never had any interest in gold finding before and I basically never thought about it. But couple days ago at a dig site (I work in construction) I found an interesting rock that looks like this:
IMG_20220312_140758.jpg

I you look closely, I know It's a bad picture, you can see million little golden shiny specks.
Rock is almost white, some parts are almost transparent. The whole rock is crumbly falls apart very easily, so by the time I brought it home in a bag it crumbled a lot already.
Dig site had primarily round rocks meaning there was, millions years ago, maybe 100s thousands, a lake, river, whatever (I remember from history lessons, I just have no clue about when exactly that was).
A picture of smaller crumbs:
IMG_20220312_140702.jpg

IMG_20220312_140750.jpg

the more I crumble these smaller rocks the more gold specks also fall apart into finer powder. I managed to extract some bigger pieces:
IMG_20220313_081546.jpg

As you can see it looks mostly gold, but has a red-ish tone, which I think could be iron.
I also have a 60-100x microscope, sadly the picture didn't come out that great:
IMG_20220313_081800.jpg

In person it looks gold is attached to some black rock thing? and some parts are a bit reddish.
and some more pictures for fun:
IMG_20220312_193940.jpg
IMG_20220313_081300.jpg

So what do you guys think? Could this be gold?. I'm thinking to take one piece, what is think is a nugget, to a gold shop and get it tested there before I buy any equipment.


Thanks!
 

Upvote 3
Sorry. It's the mineral Mica - not gold. A common mistake.
How do you know it's mica? I mean that by how do you differentiate gold from mica? I looked it up and mica looks more greyish, or if you can pointe out to a tutorial, or a blog.
 

How do you know it's mica? I mean that by how do you differentiate gold from mica? I looked it up and mica looks more greyish, or if you can pointe out to a tutorial, or a blog.
Mica breaks and flakes, gold will bend and not break.
 

Looks kinda granite like to me the rock with typical pyrite specks. Get those specks isolated and im betting they crush to powder.
Sorry.
 

Remember Gold will keep the same shine luster when viewed in the "shade" the stuff you have should lose its sparkle/shine when viewed in the shade.
 

You should be able to test a piece with pliers. If a particle compresses and deforms, it's likely gold (gold is a soft and malleable mineral). If it crushes, it's likely pyrite (pyrite is a brittle mineral).

I once found a location a few miles from Weaver's Needle in the Superstition Mountains, just off a trail. The ground was scattered with glittery gold particles. I thought I had found the Lost Dutchman, but it was just pyrite. :laughing7:

If you want to make sure and have a place where you can take it to for a professional opinion, do it.
 

You should be able to test a piece with pliers. If a particle compresses and deforms, it's likely gold (gold is a soft and malleable mineral). If it crushes, it's likely pyrite (pyrite is a brittle mineral).

I once found a location a few miles from Weaver's Needle in the Superstition Mountains, just off a trail. The ground was scattered with glittery gold particles. I thought I had found the Lost Dutchman, but it was just pyrite. :laughing7:

If you want to make sure and have a place where you can take it to for a professional opinion, do it.
Did the same thing off an area by the Salt River. I was like man this gold prospecting thing is easier than I thought. Boy did I learn quickly
 

use the backside of a unglazed bathroom tile an scratch the sample on it a lot . It's called the scratch test. If it is gold , the scratch will come up gold colored . If it is mica /fools gold it will come up black in color . I used to keep a piece of unglazed bathroom tile in my trailer for just this type of situation ! My son asked if the ring he found was gold.... we did the scratch test on it and it turned up with a black mark . ALWAYS use a known gold Karet and mark it as so to compare it to your unknown piece ! And don't question Clay Diggin's comment ! He has LOT'S of experience !! It's good for you to question a comment for your own knowledge ....... :coffee2: :coffee2:
 

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