Is this SILVER? (or the Lone Ranger lol)

Breezie

Gold Member
Oct 3, 2009
6,269
2,119
North Carolina
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
White's DFX & Spectrum~Garrett's Pro-Pointer~VibraProbe
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Hey, Once again, something strange followed me home while MD-ing. On my DFX it read: SILVER with a +75 thru +78. It is approximately 3/4 of an inch wide, and has bright silver areas. It is not lead, because it is lighter in weight. A magnet does not stick to it. I used a knife to scrape it in several places, each time the area beneath was silver colored. There are more silver areas on the rock than show up on the photos. The reddish colored areas are red clay that didn't clean out. Thanks, Breezie
 

Attachments

  • Silver1.jpg
    Silver1.jpg
    28.6 KB · Views: 1,955
  • Silver2.jpg
    Silver2.jpg
    15.1 KB · Views: 1,381
  • Silver3.jpg
    Silver3.jpg
    26.4 KB · Views: 633
  • Silver1.jpg
    Silver1.jpg
    28.6 KB · Views: 1,099
  • Silver2.jpg
    Silver2.jpg
    15.1 KB · Views: 1,331
  • Silver3.jpg
    Silver3.jpg
    26.4 KB · Views: 514
I guess it could be silver :icon_scratch: or just slag of some kind, perhaps pewter or even aluminum. Sure is hard to tell from a photo. Maybe take it to a jeweler for an opinion.

GG~
 

Upvote 0
There are so many different silver like minerals, its just plain nuts.

However out of some reason it looks like Arsenopyrite to me.
Gently strike it or rub it with another rock, if it smells like garlic its arsenopyrite. :notworthy:


What streak colour does it have?
The streak is determined by pulling it on a unglazed porcelain piece.
Can you scratch it with your nail?
 

Upvote 0
Selsun Blue shampo turns silver a cool Blue/Black color!

Just place a drop on a cleaned area and see.
 

Upvote 0
Eu_citzen said:
There are so many different silver like minerals, its just plain nuts.

However out of some reason it looks like Arsenopyrite to me.
Gently strike it or rub it with another rock, if it smells like garlic its arsenopyrite.It does not smell like garlic; it has no odor at all.
What streak colour does it have?
The streak is determined by pulling it on a unglazed porcelain piece.I did the streak test using underneath the toilet lid. The streaks were light gray. What does light gray mean?
Can you scratch it with your nail?No, I cannot scratch it with my fingernail, but I can scratch it with a pocket knife. When I first saw it, I thought it was a chewed/pain Civil War Bullet, but when I picked it up, I knew immediately it was not lead because of the light weight. So what are your thoughts? Thanks in advance, Breezie
 

Upvote 0
homefires said:
Selsun Blue shampo turns silver a cool Blue/Black color!

Just place a drop on a cleaned area and see.
NEAT! I'll buy some Selsun Blue this afternoon and try it. Would it work for Silver Ore too or just Sterling? Thanks, Breezie
 

Upvote 0
TheBreeze426 said:
homefires said:
Selsun Blue shampo turns silver a cool Blue/Black color!

Just place a drop on a cleaned area and see.
NEAT! I'll buy some Selsun Blue this afternoon and try it. Would it work for Silver Ore too or just Sterling? Thanks, Breezie


Most all Silver Ore is one form or another of Silver Sulfides or Salts.

It wil work on any clean silver.
 

Upvote 0
TheBreeze426 said:
Eu_citzen said:
There are so many different silver like minerals, its just plain nuts.

However out of some reason it looks like Arsenopyrite to me.
Gently strike it or rub it with another rock, if it smells like garlic its arsenopyrite.It does not smell like garlic; it has no odor at all.
What streak colour does it have?
The streak is determined by pulling it on a unglazed porcelain piece.I did the streak test using underneath the toilet lid. The streaks were light gray. What does light gray mean?
Can you scratch it with your nail?No, I cannot scratch it with my fingernail, but I can scratch it with a pocket knife. When I first saw it, I thought it was a chewed/pain Civil War Bullet, but when I picked it up, I knew immediately it was not lead because of the light weight. So what are your thoughts? Thanks in advance, Breezie
The light gray colour means it has a light gray streak. LOL :D
Ok seriously, the streak test is very useful for ore minerals, like magnetite, hematite and so on.

I am thinking a pyrite form actually, but it isn't hard enough.
(you shouldn't be able to scratch it with a knife)

Could this be it?
http://www.mindat.org/min-3803.html

Most seems to fit.

Can you scratch it with a copper penny?
Lets try to narrow it down further.
 

Upvote 0
I am thinking a pyrite form actually, but it isn't hard enough.
(you shouldn't be able to scratch it with a knife)

Could this be it?
http://www.mindat.org/min-3803.html

Most seems to fit.

Can you scratch it with a copper penny?Yes, I can scratch it with a copper penny . . .okay, now what? lol . .thank you so much for helping me with this. ;D Breezie
Lets try to narrow it down further.
It looks more like PLATINUM to me from the pics on Google. Is this possible???
 

Upvote 0
TheBreeze426 said:
I am thinking a pyrite form actually, but it isn't hard enough.
(you shouldn't be able to scratch it with a knife)

Could this be it?
http://www.mindat.org/min-3803.html

Most seems to fit.

Can you scratch it with a copper penny?Yes, I can scratch it with a copper penny . . .okay, now what? lol . .thank you so much for helping me with this. ;D Breezie
Lets try to narrow it down further.
It looks more like PLATINUM to me from the pics on Google. Is this possible???
Platinum is possible, but not very likely. It would feel VERY heavy. Platinum is heavier then gold of the same size. :o
I am still researching possibilities. :wink:
 

Upvote 0
I doubt if it is ore unless there was more around.
Finding a random small piece of 3/4" silver ore would be odd.
I still lean to some kind of slag or melted glob of metal.

What type of terrain was it found in?

GG~
 

Upvote 0
GoodyGuy said:
I doubt if it is ore unless there was more around.
Finding a random small piece of 3/4" silver ore would be odd.
I still lean to some kind of slag or melted glob of metal.

What type of terrain was it found in?

GG~
Now if it was the only piece, I have to agree.
It would be rare to find a random piece like that.
 

Upvote 0
Crossing fingers it's a great find for you...so frustrating specimens look so different.

:)
 

Upvote 0
I wanna know too!!!

So I found something and couldn't find ANYTHING looking like it, I stumbled upon your pictures of your rock and wondering if mine's silver too! Is it just me? Or does mine look a LOT like yours? I tried breaking it in half with a hammer and then a screwdriver. Wouldn't break, all it would do is dent, and only with the hammer hitting the screwdriver. Probably not my smartest move, but there it is.rock 1.jpgRock 2.jpgRock 3.jpg
 

Upvote 0

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Latest Discussions

Back
Top