What does gold look like after being buried in dirt, sand and salt water?

[Golden oaks]

I have yet to dig gold with my MD.
What effect does salt water & dirt have on gold items. I tried to google this and only found pics where the gold seemed to darken. I realize it is a mineral from the earth and would suspect it would not change too much. Nothing like the discoloration of coins & iron. Any pictures of your (as they lay) gold before clean up would be appreciated! Thank you

 

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[Treasure_Hunter]

I have yet to dig gold with my MD.
What effect does salt water & dirt have on gold items. I tried to google this and only found pics where the gold seemed to darken. I realize it is a mineral from the earth and would suspect it would not change too much. Nothing like the discoloration of coins & iron.

Depends on the karat and base metals. Most times it remains just like minted, especially in ground, but lower quality gold can react to the minerals in the salt water...

 

[Sandman]

Are you talking of raw gold or jewelry? If you are thinking gold jewelry don't disc out pull tabs at the beach an soon you'll find gold.

 

[AuLobo]

I have yet to dig gold with my MD.
What effect does salt water & dirt have on gold items. I tried to google this and only found pics where the gold seemed to darken. I realize it is a mineral from the earth and would suspect it would not change too much. Nothing like the discoloration of coins & iron. Any pictures of your (as they lay) gold before clean up would be appreciated! Thank you

I've attached an image of a vial containing Arizona gold pickers and fines. At the time the image was taken this gold had been out of the ground for only a few hours where it had been buried for millions of years. Nothing had been done to clean or otherwise alter the appearance. This gold precipitated out of very hot subterranean water forced up through cracks in the earth's crust then remained on the floor of an ancient sea for many millennia until the land rose, forcing off the salt water. In spite of all that time spent in those rough conditions, it still looks like gold.