I'm stumped here and what I first was sure was gold colored mica dust and flakes is giving me mixed singles. I have panned out some gold dust and flakes out from a sample of minerals under a strange layered sheperical concretion or tube on a dug out red clay dug out cliff here in Georgia. The spherical concretion is a mystery itself and I would have assumed that it was manmade but unless it was created more than 200 years ago I can rule it out. It may be a lava tube that is rotting or some kind of ancient vent. Below that strange lava like tube on the cliff and above a layer of bedrock is a concentration of gold dust and flakes that I assumed was mica but I took a sample back to play with. Also of note, I kept finding pieces of black non metallic, mostly none magnetic lava looking slag strew everywhere around there. Cut a piece open and occasionally you will be lucky to occasionally see shining metal circle or balls and those are magnetic but they tarnish in a hour and are indistinguishable by 4 hours.
Ok back to the Gold flakes and my confusion.
Although these flakes and dust were miniscule, it was easy to separate the gold mica as it dropped to the bottom quickly and everything else was washed away. I was not trying to be overly careful but I didn't lose flakes and dust and none of the gold stuff floated regardless of size.
I took the largest flake which was the thickness of a home depot receipt and quarter of the size of a sunflower seed and put it directly on gold bullion to check the luster from different angles and it was remarkable how well the 2 matched. If this was mica, the way it shines and it’s color was a dead match as far as we were concerned.
I tested it in 14kt and 18kt gold test and it remained unchanged on one batch and I actually soaked another batch for a long time and came back to see little change but maybe a few pieces broke down or cleaner.
In the largest piece I was able to leave little dent's in it from a ball point pen with gentle pressure.
I put few pieces on the tip of a knife over the gas stove flame until the knife tip glowed, protecting the gold flakes somewhat from the flame and I saw something happen where I thought It was going to melt but it was only the smallest of particles and I can not say for certain what if any reaction happened, but other than getting stuck to the knife I chipped the pieces off and it remained the same.
Why I think it's mica.
Now if I put more pressure on this stuff, it break apart or crumbles but I'm pushing down and probably twitching a bit adding to the tearing. I can reassemble it in a pile and push down with a flat surface and get it to kinda sticks together for whatever thats worth.
I can take the dust and flakes between my fingers and when I roll it, it just falls apart and coats my fingers like mica would. The dust really feels literally feels like flour. I tried a scratch test but the piece was to fragile and although it left a long distinct gold yellow streak I really didn't scratch the piece on the porcelain but smushed it and slide the piece leaving a trail. Does that count?
What is throwing me off is this stuff heavy but is falls apart easier than I think gold would granted the pieces are receipt paper thin and the largest are still tiny. The stuff was heavy enough that when I went to wash out the pickle jar I brought the sample home in, I just left the water faucet running into the jar letting it overflow to clean the dirt out and when I walked back it had gathered a little pile of the gold dust in the bottom and nothing else.
I’ve never heard of anyone doing this before, and I know it sounds nuts, but to test if it’s gold or mica could I not put the sample in the microwave for a couple seconds and see if it sparks or not. I know any other metal I’ve accidently left in the microware sparks so would gold not as well. What happens to mica in the microwave?
Ok back to the Gold flakes and my confusion.
Although these flakes and dust were miniscule, it was easy to separate the gold mica as it dropped to the bottom quickly and everything else was washed away. I was not trying to be overly careful but I didn't lose flakes and dust and none of the gold stuff floated regardless of size.
I took the largest flake which was the thickness of a home depot receipt and quarter of the size of a sunflower seed and put it directly on gold bullion to check the luster from different angles and it was remarkable how well the 2 matched. If this was mica, the way it shines and it’s color was a dead match as far as we were concerned.
I tested it in 14kt and 18kt gold test and it remained unchanged on one batch and I actually soaked another batch for a long time and came back to see little change but maybe a few pieces broke down or cleaner.
In the largest piece I was able to leave little dent's in it from a ball point pen with gentle pressure.
I put few pieces on the tip of a knife over the gas stove flame until the knife tip glowed, protecting the gold flakes somewhat from the flame and I saw something happen where I thought It was going to melt but it was only the smallest of particles and I can not say for certain what if any reaction happened, but other than getting stuck to the knife I chipped the pieces off and it remained the same.
Why I think it's mica.
Now if I put more pressure on this stuff, it break apart or crumbles but I'm pushing down and probably twitching a bit adding to the tearing. I can reassemble it in a pile and push down with a flat surface and get it to kinda sticks together for whatever thats worth.
I can take the dust and flakes between my fingers and when I roll it, it just falls apart and coats my fingers like mica would. The dust really feels literally feels like flour. I tried a scratch test but the piece was to fragile and although it left a long distinct gold yellow streak I really didn't scratch the piece on the porcelain but smushed it and slide the piece leaving a trail. Does that count?
What is throwing me off is this stuff heavy but is falls apart easier than I think gold would granted the pieces are receipt paper thin and the largest are still tiny. The stuff was heavy enough that when I went to wash out the pickle jar I brought the sample home in, I just left the water faucet running into the jar letting it overflow to clean the dirt out and when I walked back it had gathered a little pile of the gold dust in the bottom and nothing else.
I’ve never heard of anyone doing this before, and I know it sounds nuts, but to test if it’s gold or mica could I not put the sample in the microwave for a couple seconds and see if it sparks or not. I know any other metal I’ve accidently left in the microware sparks so would gold not as well. What happens to mica in the microwave?
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