stumbled upon

chicken · Dec 29, 2024

hi,

I live on the edge of barossa gold fields and disturbed some rocks. Certainly looks like gold flecks in the sunlight, even more so than here. Fools gold? Presumably you need more of a seem than flecks to be worth the effort of extracting?

grubstake · Dec 29, 2024

chicken said:
hi,

I live on the edge of barossa gold fields and disturbed some rocks. Certainly looks like gold flecks in the sunlight, even more so than here. Fools gold? Presumably you need more of a seem than flecks to be worth the effort of extracting?

Hiya chicken, welcome to PA.

One of the characteristics of gold is that it looks golden in both shade and sunshine, so if this looks better in sunlight, it probably isn't gold I'm afraid. Your pic is a little blurry, but that shiny stuff looks more like pyrites (fools gold) to me.

chicken · Dec 29, 2024

grubstake said:
Hiya chicken, welcome to PA.

One of the characteristics of gold is that it looks golden in both shade and sunshine, so if this looks better in sunlight, it probably isn't gold I'm afraid. Your pic is a little blurry, but that shiny stuff looks more like pyrites (fools gold) to me.

ta, that's what I was thinking, though you can see it ok in shade, but some angles in sunlight it doesn't glitter as much.

auriphile · Dec 29, 2024

chicken said:
ta, that's what I was thinking, though you can see it ok in shade, but some angles in sunlight it doesn't glitter as much.

Nice! Yes - that pyrite(s).
Prick it with a pin - gold is soft. You can press hard - gold won't shatter like pyrite will

There may be some free gold in there as well - and also may be fine gold within the pyrite matrix. It'd take a lot of the latter to get excited over.
Take a look with a hand lens for free gold - it'll look distinctively "gold" compared to the Chalcopyrite and Iron Pyrite (which will look "brassy" in comparison). (I'll see if I've got a picture).

You've probably got some Arsenopyrite in there as well. Both those pyrites are harder than gold and will shatter if pressed hard with a point or an edge.

When viewed side by side they always look crude/rough compared to gold - gold that's been exposed rarely displays it's crystal planes as its very soft. It gets easy to spot the difference.

Even if there is no gold in that rock - you are definitely in a mineralised zone! If can't find any free gold with a 5x or 10x lens - keep looking parallel to the reef for an intersecting intrusion... you never know

(Advise warranty: if it breaks you get to keep both pieces)

chicken · Dec 30, 2024

auriphile said:
Nice! Yes - that pyrite(s).
Prick it with a pin - gold is soft. You can press hard - gold won't shatter like pyrite will
There may be some free gold in there as well - and also may be fine gold within the pyrite matrix. It'd take a lot of the latter to get excited over.
Take a look with a hand lens for free gold - it'll look distinctively "gold" compared to the Chalcopyrite and Iron Pyrite (which will look "brassy" in comparison). (I'll see if I've got a picture).

You've probably got some Arsenopyrite in there as well. Both those pyrites are harder than gold and will shatter if pressed hard with a point or an edge.

When viewed side by side they always look crude/rough compared to gold - gold that's been exposed rarely displays it's crystal planes as its very soft. It gets easy to spot the difference.

Even if there is no gold in that rock - you are definitely in a mineralised zone! If can't find any free gold with a 5x or 10x lens - keep looking parallel to the reef for an intersecting intrusion... you never know (Advise warranty: if it breaks you get to keep both pieces)

Ta, very informative! The goldest bits don't shatter and you can scrape off and are gold on all sides. now rattling around the shed to see if I can improvise a rock crusher!

auriphile · Dec 30, 2024

That's what I'd do! Smack it good with a big hammer - and keep smacking a sample of chunks until your arms hurt. And then pound some more

And hopefully it won't end up looking like this....

7an7 · Dec 31, 2024

hi all it's been some time since i put a post as usual.
i do get a bit of gold ore and sometimes will give poor dolly a good hit back. i had a bit to crush a few days ago
so, as most of you would heat up in a fire or blow touch them don't try to sneak them next to the roast spuds as my darling partner informed me what dolly we crack next. wear PPE it looks cool better still save eyes most importantly. i would send pics but sorry i am on computer no my phone. it can be so rewarding like the last crush i was way more than expected. Thank you all
have a night of celebration or quiet night as soon the tally resets and everyone may you have a GOLDEN year

stumbled upon

Help Support Prospecting Australia:

chicken

grubstake

chicken

auriphile

If it breaks - you get to keep both pieces.

chicken

auriphile

If it breaks - you get to keep both pieces.

Attachments

7an7

Similar threads

Latest posts