Gold Fire Nugget?

Ant · Dec 7, 2015

I think this is a gold ring that was melted in a extremely hot house or building fire. It came out of the ground like you see in the first set of pictures, then I scrubbed it with a toothbrush, ammonia, and dish washing liquid.

It is heavy like gold but is contaminated from the fire. Has any of you found or seen a contaminated gold fire nugget ring. Would this fire nugget fit the criteria for a gold fire nugget ring? I don't find much brass in this area but every now and then I do, mostly iron, aluminum, cooper and lead.

Ant · Dec 7, 2015

Sorry I was having difficulties uploading pics:

Red James Cash · Dec 7, 2015

Could be.but,24k gold melts at 1900 plus change degrees,14k at 1600 plus change degrees.An average house fire burns around 1000 degrees.

Ant · Dec 7, 2015

It was down inside a bed of charcoal, in the bed of a service road (not in the middle). I think I have the recovery on my GoPro, trying to recover my YouTube access so I can upload them. This melted copper came from the site burn. It may have been a railroad tie building fire with no fire department that could put it out.

Ant · Dec 7, 2015

It looks like copper melts at around 1900 F too so it was indeed hot. I'm sure it isn't 24k it is too yellow, hard, and contaminated, may be 10k, the crust rreminds me of that I've seen on a some meteorites and some natural black gold nuggets.

Red James Cash · Dec 7, 2015

Ive found melted copper before,most likely coins.It was in the yard of a early 1700s house that burnt close to that time in concord Mass.I'd rather have the coins :laughing9:

Ant · Dec 8, 2015

This site has a rich gold history and tons of gold ore was loaded and shipped through the site. So I'm beginning to think that this may be a gold nugget.

The first set of pictures is how i came out of the ground. The second set of pictures is how it looked after cleaning it with baking soda, ammonia, dish washing liquid, and a 40 second scrubbing with a medium toothbrush (yhep I counted that).

Then this morning I tired scrubbing it with the toothbrush and Brasso Brass cleaner, it had no effect, no tarnish transfer to the white cotton cloth that I used (it isn't brass). Then I soaked it in ketchup for about 30 minutes. Then I vigorously scrubbed for about a minute with a hog bristle brush. Here's how it looks now:

Ant · Dec 8, 2015

After all these years this would be my first detected gold nugget. What do you guys think, do I have a crystaline gold nugget? The gold is actually soft enough bend where I have the pointer:

sutphin · Dec 8, 2015

NOW THATS A COOL FIND .

Ant · Dec 8, 2015

Hey thanks you guys. I'm beginning to think this is a natural copper nugget like the gold. It would be something it the copper nugget is alloyed with gold. What say you?

Dewayne Hight · Dec 9, 2015

You can get a nitric acid test kit that would tell you for sure if it was gold and the carat value too

Ant · Dec 9, 2015

Hey thanks for the advice, my test kit is kaput, I just ordered a new one. This is how some gold comes around here. It is in its crystalline form, the black iron oxide coating is not common but it is not unheard in this area either. Remember the story of old Pegleg's Nuggets, and I think Hermit John had some black nuggets. Anyway the old saying served true, "Gold is where you find it",

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fowledup · Dec 10, 2015

Quick streak test will tell ya. You can use the backside of a piece of tile or any unglazed porcelin. Rub it across it, if the color is gold or yellow it's gold, if the steak is black it is not, I know pyrite streaks black, not sure but bronze might streak black as well. Good Luck hope it's a nuggie!

relic lover · Dec 10, 2015

Now that you mention the history of gold in the area it could also be the remains of someone's gold ore smelting. I don't know enough about nuggets to tell you if it looks natural or not. But as far as looking like something that was smelted that's what it looks like to me

Ant · Dec 11, 2015

Hi fowleup. I knew it was gold from the start. You know after handling enough gold you get the fell of it in your hand (it flops around in your hand instead of rolls, and it tends to fall out, and won't stand on edge long it instantly drops.That made me take a second look then I saw glint of gold on the edges and peaks then knew. I ordered a new test kit and it will be here any day, I will post the results.

Hi relic lover. The history at this site shipping gold not processing but we never know. The gold nugget experts say both are natural nuggets, they may have fallen from a pack animal, some prospectors moved gold in canvas sacks that were known to develop holes, thanks. Several years ago I found 13 buffalo nickels in a 15 x 15 foot area at this site.

They say some signs to look for are that that fire and or fake nuggets form a bowl or blob, are 2 dimensional, and contamination on one side.

Here's what it looks like after soaking in a vinegar and salt solution and several scrubs with a toothbrush, thanks for Winslow's formula and reminding me that the coating is manganese not iron oxide:

fowledup · Dec 11, 2015

Good deal! I forgot to say that the undersise of a toilet tank lid will work for streak testing

Ant · Dec 12, 2015

It turns out to be a mixed copper. It passed the 14k acid test but failed the 18k test. Then I took the little tab that I pointed out with the arrow above, the one that I was able to bend with my pinky fingernail and acid washed it. The first set of photos are during and after washing the sample with the 18k test solution.