✅ SOLVED Looking for gold but found this instead

[minersmoss]

Found in river gravel with my metal detector, along the mighty Skagit River. Registered a 38 on my Mine Lab X-Terra 705. My 14kt gold wedding band registers a 30. Was kind of dark when I found it but it shined right up when I rubbed it against my blue jeans. Weighs in at 0.11 oz. Anybody have any ideas as to what it might be ? I should also add that it is NOT magnetic, nor is it soft, I smacked it with a hammer a couple times and it didn't make a flat spot.


UPDATE : Found out that the scale I used to weigh my nugget was not functioning properly. I used a different scale (yes, one that works) and got a weight of 0.42 oz. I thought it felt heavier than 0.11 oz. Sorry for the confusion.

 

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[BryanM362]

Don't have a clue, but there is a thread on Tnet by a guy that is willing to ID rocks for people. He seems to know what he it talking about. Search for "Have a rock you want identified."

 

[minersmoss]

Thanks

 

[BryanM362]

Here's a link to that thread.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/h...ied-post-here-gimme-good-picture-3-4-a-8.html

 

[AU Seeker]

Being that you say it was hard, it's possible that it platinum, I would've guess silver since it was black when you found it, but silver is about the same hardness as gold and if it was silver it should of deformed somewhat, it could be either or neither!!

 

[Upstate Rich]

Ok , its does look like Plat!!!!,...go to a assayer,or the local gem and min club,...you need to weigh the specfic Gravity of the rock,also is it magnetic in any way?usin a rare earth mgnet
?....

 

[minersmoss]

Here is a good close-up :




I see some white area in this view, looks like Quartz rock when I look at it threw the magnifier ?

 

[AU Seeker]

Take it to a good reputable jeweler, they should be able to test it with an electronic tester for being silver and or platinum.

 

[pippinwhitepaws]

could be gold with a mercury coating...that happens in old time mining districts.

 

[H-2 CHARLIE]

wow lets get it checked out , im guessing plat.

 

[bigfoot1]

a couple of observations....its weight for its size eliminates gold imho.Platinum is outrageously heavy also...prolly not plat.

that leaves us with marginally mallable,non or barely magnetic,and silvery.
Nickle is my guess...get a nickle test kit at any pharmacy and see.the weight is right too.
Just my humble guesses...good luck

 

[AU Seeker]

a couple of observations....its weight for its size eliminates gold imho.Platinum is outrageously heavy also...prolly not plat.

that leaves us with marginally mallable,non or barely magnetic,and silvery.
Nickle is my guess...get a nickle test kit at any pharmacy and see.the weight is right too.
Just my humble guesses...good luck

I think the size to weight (at .42 ounce) ratio is close for it to be platinum.

I say this because the nugget that is in my avatar picture is almost the size of this "platinum" nugget and my gold nugget weights in at 9+ grams which is between 1/4 and 1/3 Troy ounce.

That being said, it seems that this "platinum" nugget weighting in at .42 ounce (Avoirdupois ounce not Troy) which would be .382 Troy ounce seems to be about the correct size for it possibly being platinum. [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]IMHO[/FONT]

 

[BosnMate]

Meteorite?

 

[minersmoss]

preformed a specific gravity test and had disappointing results, assuming I did it right. It registered as a 6, which is in the range of tin. If Platinum it would be in the range of 21

 

[kuger]

could be gold with a mercury coating...that happens in old time mining districts.

...he hit it with a hammer....gold is soft....also.....Mercury is naturally ocuring...but yes Mercury does show up where gold has been mined in the past...thus why we need to be allowed to suction dredge because that is the ONLY way to remove it....and that is FACT!!

 

[JohnT]

Could also be Palladium... similar weight to silver, but lighter than platinum with nearly identical hardness. Regardless, sweet find!

 

[huntsman53]

preformed a specific gravity test and had disappointing results, assuming I did it right. It registered as a 6, which is in the range of tin. If Platinum it would be in the range of 21

If the specimen is Platinum and contains a considerable amount of Quartz internally, the specific gravity test would be severely skewed due to the Quartz! An Assayer should be able to determine what it is or as others have said, a reputable Jewelry Store should be able to test for Platinum.


Frank

 

[bigfoot1]

I for one would like to know how this one worked out....any new news?

 

[wvwildman]

 

[Jjhall68]

I don't know how this turned out but I work close to you and would be happy to do an X-Ray florescence analysis of this for you. I am sure other curious members like me would love to know.

All the Best,
John