gold nugget (12g) with limonite ???

[silesia]

Hello,
gold nugget (12g) with limonite
How did he arise? Is limonite made of pyrite or later glued to gold? Limonite is with sharp, small pieces of quartz. I will be grateful for all suggestions.

 

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[BillA]

most interesting
where is it from?
Bill

 

[silesia]

Poland

 

[Terry Soloman]

Looks like Caliche to me. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliche

Congrats on your nugget!!!

 

[Clay Diggins]

From Mindat:

Morphology:

While "limonite" is poorly crystallized, a number of minerals are noted for decomposing to it without losing their crystal shape - particularly pyrite and siderite crystals. Any "crystals" of "limonite" are actually pseudomorphs of other minerals which have decomposed in this fashion.

Limonite forms from many different iron minerals. It's very common for pyrite to weather to limonite. Magnetite and Hematite are also commonly weathered into limonite. It's not unusual to find limonite and gold together. Limonite is composed of hydroxide and oxides of iron - in other words it's rust.

Heavy Pans

 

[Goldwasher]

From Mindat:

Morphology:


Limonite forms from many different iron minerals. It's very common for pyrite to weather to limonite. Magnetite and Hematite are also commonly weathered into limonite. It's not unusual to find limonite and gold together. Limonite is a hydroxide and oxides of iron - in other words it's rust.

Heavy Pans

I was gonna mention Hematite I've dug several pieces of ore with it. Get lumps of it in the pan and sluice too.