Honeymooner Accidental Gold Prospectors in the California Mother Lode

[mellylou]

Hello Treasure Hunters!

My husband (we were married September 21st, 2013) and I were travelling around the Mother Lode, Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes on our honeymoon and we believe we accidentally found gold ore, while looking for obsidian. Although I cannot disclose the exact location, we found this suspect ore at the mouth of a freshwater spring, in an area which was once famous for gold prospecting and mining. We're not interested in pulverizing, or melting our specimens, but we are indeed curious if what we found was gold. The specimens are mainly quartz, with iron ore and the "gold" formations are veined and specked throughout the pieces. The "gold" has a light yellow shimmer in all light, with some silver flecks and some of it is a muted gold tone. Attached is a picture of a few of our specimens and we can share more pictures later tonight.

What do you think? Fool's gold? Gold ore?



Best Regards,
Melissa, in California

 

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[goldenIrishman]

I can't tell from the pictures but if it is maybe it's a sign that you're sure to reach your "Golden Anniversary" together. Congrats and good luck!

 

[DesertNuggets]

Based on your description and the pics I'd guess it's not gold.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

I believe its Mica scratch with your fingernail if it flakes away rub between your fingers Mica will turn black or crumble away Gold will not.best of luck.

 

[mellylou]

Thank you all for the helpful feedback and I wanted to post a few more detailed shots of the specimens. Most everyone has suggested that the gold coloring is mica, but I've scratched the specimens with a needle and they do not flake and they do maintain the scratch marks. At the very least we have some pretty relics from an amazingly beautiful trip--so we're still happy with them!

 

[fowledup]

Mellylou, great pictures post them over on the hard rock forum, I bet you will get a lot of feedback, goodluck

 

[Golden-1]

looks like the stuff i found in my rocks witch turned out to be Pyrite "fools Gold" hard to tell from the pics but i am no expert. Good Luck

 

[wv hilljack]

I see no visiboe ore just mineralized rock.

 

[63bkpkr]

View the 'gold' coloration under at least 10x magnification for more information on what the coloration could be. If it does not look like the gold color of a gold ring or it it has square notches to it or if it has thin layers to it then it is not gold. If the pin scratches cause the gold color to smear/roll over to each side of the pin scratch (picture a single plow head turning the earth over in a field) then it could be gold. I hope it is gold but either way it will add some good memories to your marriage and congratulations on tying your lives together through your wedding vows. It is a lifetime improvement project that will take work on both your parts. I'm looking forward to being invited to your 65th wedding anniversary! Oh, and always hold hands when you are out in public and do it as both of you want to!.............................63bkpkr

 

[Gold Maven]

63bkpkr is right, Radio Shack sells a 30x pocket microscope for about 10 bucks, it is easy to tell with that magnification. GL.

 

[Hoser John]

Your lucky to have gotten married so soon as all parks closed now due to government shutdown. Met friends in reno who were turned away so came to reno to hook up and party together-John