Gold flakes and Flour or Pyrite

[-goldhunter-]

Hello all I am new to this forum and to gold panning. This past weekend I went and gold panned some material down to black sand and another material which I am trying to figure out if it is gold flakes and flour or pyrite. I heard here in Colorado the gold can get pretty fine so I dont want to throw out a pan just because I thought it was pyrite. Any here is a picutre I'll try to upload a video tomorrow but I couldnt get it to work tonight and need to head to bed. I have researched the general ways of telling pyrite from gold but I didn't know if you all had your own tricks to be sure. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

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[Back-of-the-boat]

There is a gold forum on here just scroll down until you find it.You will find a lot of well informed advice there.You will have to re-post this there.

 

[mrs.oroblanco]

Pyrite is brittle. gold isn't. Also, there could be both in the pan, as pyrites can show up with gold. (and Colorado does have some very fine flour gold). Personally, I carry around a little portable gold/silver test kit. If there are any "heavies" in your pan, you can take it down further by putting a good magnet in a plastic baggie and getting it out of there. It's hard to tell from a picture, but gold has a "hue" of its own, especially in sunlight!

This might help you decide how to treat what you have. Pyrites will dissolve out.





Mrs.O

 

[Bquamb]

IF that's gold, Good job!
If pyrite... Womp Womp, but I bet you were thrilled to see it upon final inspection!