Gold/copper nugget?

[Sam K]

I was walking along a beach in the Puget Sound area (won't say exactly where, but it was on an island) and there were a bunch of 5-7 inch diameter rocks. Laying there was a little green 'rock'. I picked it up and noticed it was too heavy to be a rock. My dad said it was copper. When I got home I soaked it in muriatic acid for about 10 minutes and then scrubbed with warm soapy water. It appears to be gold and copper, but some of the 'gold' is pretty dull, while some is shiny but the surface looks flat like a faceted crystal sort of thing. There are several little copper blobs that look melted into it. It appears to be a natural nugget, and not something that someone melted down or broke open. I didn't get around to taking pictures before the acid/soapy water scrubbing, but here are a couple after. It's about 1 1/4 X 3/4 X 1/2 inches and weighs 1 ounce. Any ideas what it is/what it's worth?

Also, I didn't find it with a detector, I just saw it laying there, but when I scan it with my Ace 250 if moves all around the ID scale, but is mostly on the 10c icon. That is right between the gold and silver sections of the ID scale.

Sorry the pictures are a little big, I'll resize them if it's a problem.

 

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[doublet2a]

1 ounce seems a little shy to me for something that size that's copper or gold or both
I think it would weigh a lot more if it was

Tim

 

[OldNBroken]

The color and the ripples on the second picture would lead me to believe it's brass slag. I've got a few chunks myself but am out of town right now so can't post em.

 

[Breezie]

You can always give it the 'scratch & sniff' test. Brass have a very distinct odor. Rub a brass house key, and then smell your fingers, and you will note the odor. Do the same with the rock. If a gold nugget was that size, it would weigh waaaay more than an ounce. Interesting find, keep us posted, Breezie

 

[Sam K]

It does appear to have a lot of copper in it, so that might be why it doesn't weigh very much. How much would a gold nugget that size normally weigh? I'll try the brass scratch & sniff test if I can find something that I know is brass.

 

[artyfacts]

It could be melted Muntz Metal. Muntz Metal about 60% copper, 40% zinc and a trace of iron. It is named after George Fredrick Muntz from England. It was patented in 1832, William Collins had patented of a similar alloy 56% 44% in 1800. It was used for ship bottoms and also nails and spikes replacing the softer copper shielding and spikes. The Muntz metal looks exactly like gold. You could have the remains of a boat fire. Just an idea. Arty

 

[Breezie]

It could be melted Muntz Metal. Muntz Metal about 60% copper, 40% zinc and a trace of iron. It is named after George Fredrick Muntz from England. It was patented in 1832, William Collins had patented of a similar alloy 56% 44% in 1800. It was used for ship bottoms and also nails and spikes replacing the softer copper shielding and spikes. The Muntz metal looks exactly like gold. You could have the remains of a boat fire. Just an idea. Arty

 

[Sam K]

I hope you're wrong..I hope it's gold. but you're probably right. Is there any way I can tell for sure what it is?

 

[Lucas]

Melted pocket watch.

 

[artyfacts]

You could buy a gold test kit. And if you just have to know right away, take it to a jeweler or coin shop. I hope it has some gold content to. Good luck to you......

 

[kevinjd2020]

What is this nugget i found 6 inches down

Its non magnetic
can only sratch it with a knife
its 4cm x 1cm x 1cm
20 grams

please help

 

[invent4hir]

There appears to be 3 fossil-like impressions on the left side of the second picture. If so, would copper or gold have these? Also the copper/gold "color" present on some of the surface looks really thin. Could it be paint, dried algae, or

 

[GoldieLocks]

No one thinks this is some sort of sea shell?

 

[ticndig]

I STILL think it's a wheel weight as posted on his other two threads on this item . on one of the other threads he mentions finding with a metal detector so not a sea shell.

 

[Ryanblood1]

The “fossil-like impressions“ in the second picture look like teeth marks from a pair of pliers.