Is this gold?

loz88 · Jan 16, 2025

Hey guys, I purchased this from a opshop in Castlemaine, Vic. I was unsure what it was but it was quite heavy. I dropped it a few weeks ago and this is what was inside the small corner that cracked off. I was worried it may be native arsnic so i was cautious. Or could it be Hermatite? So confused. Any help would be great greatly appreciated

Bidgee · Jan 17, 2025

Not sure on the rock other than the white one is obviously quartz. As per a similar post this week scratch the "gold" with a sharp instrument like the point of a knife. If it flakes or crumbles it aint gold - probably pyrite. Gold is relatively soft and malleable so it will scratch and mar but not flake or crumble.

loz88 · Jan 17, 2025

Bidgee said:
Not sure on the rock other than the white one is obviously quartz. As per a similar post this week scratch the "gold" with a sharp instrument like the point of a knife. If it flakes or crumbles it aint gold - probably pyrite. Gold is relatively soft and malleable so it will scratch and mar but not flake or crumble.

Thanks Bidgee! I'll give it a scratch later today and let you know how I go. Thanks for the advice

grubstake · Jan 17, 2025

loz88 said:
Hey guys, I purchased this from a opshop in Castlemaine, Vic.

As you are probably aware, Castlemaine was a very rich goldfield, so assuming this highly mineralised chunk of quartz came from there, you have a fair chance that the golden material is indeed gold.

If there is a prospecting/detector shop in your vicinity, I would take it in and ask the opinion of the staff. They see gold finds all the time and familiarity breeds recognition - an experienced prospector will usually 'know' gold on sight IMO, without the need to wait for testing.

loz88 · Jan 18, 2025

grubstake said:
As you are probably aware, Castlemaine was a very rich goldfield, so assuming this highly mineralised chunk of quartz came from there, you have a fair chance that the golden material is indeed gold.

If there is a prospecting/detector shop in your vicinity, I would take it in and ask the opinion of the staff. They see gold finds all the time and familiarity breeds recognition - an experienced prospector will usually 'know' gold on sight IMO, without the need to wait for testing.

Awesome thanks for the advice grubstake

Do you think the black specimen looks like something I should be worried about or more like Hermatite do you think? Appreciate your help

grubstake · Jan 18, 2025

loz88 said:
Awesome thanks for the advice grubstake
Do you think the black specimen looks like something I should be worried about or more like Hermatite do you think? Appreciate your help

That black stuff will be some form of ironstone, which is often found in close association with gold, hence my use of the term 'mineralised' above. In general, plain white quartz is less likely to carry gold than quartz with veins of such mineralisation.

loz88 · Jan 18, 2025

OK thanks so much. I might break some pieces up and update you on how I go. Appreciate your help

Hawkear · Jan 20, 2025

loz88 said:
OK thanks so much. I might break some pieces up and update you on how I go. Appreciate your help

Try and keep the larger pieces intact and only crush up any smaller bits. If you do have gold the larger piece would probably retain more value as a specimen.
If you do crush up a smaller piece. Place the resultant crushings in a pan and swirl some water around. Don't try to wash anything out of the pan as you just want to see the behavior of the particles in the pan and how easy they are to shift with swirling water.
Gold is nearly 8 times heavier than quartz and nearly 3 times heavier than ironstone so the white quartz particles will be easiest to move by the swirling water, then the dark ironstone particles and finally any gold particles will be the hardest to shift. Do it gently and smoothly and you should get an idea of what you have.

XLOOX · Jan 20, 2025

An easy "is this yellow stuff gold ?" test:

Get yourself one of those "jet" lighters from Bunnings or a servo. The ones that make a short blue roaring flame.

Play the very tip of the flame for 15sec on anything you want to check ( not in a plastic pan

).

If it is gold it will stay bright gold coloured. If it is not gold it will dull, go brassy, grey,crumbly and/ or catch fire

.

If it smells like sulfur or garlic you can stop straight away as is a sulphide /arsenosulphide ore of some sort , but not free gold.

loz88 · Jan 21, 2025

Hawkear said:
Try and keep the larger pieces intact and only crush up any smaller bits. If you do have gold the larger piece would probably retain more value as a specimen.
If you do crush up a smaller piece. Place the resultant crushings in a pan and swirl some water around. Don't try to wash anything out of the pan as you just want to see the behavior of the particles in the pan and how easy they are to shift with swirling water.
Gold is nearly 8 times heavier than quartz and nearly 3 times heavier than ironstone so the white quartz particles will be easiest to move by the swirling water, then the dark ironstone particles and finally any gold particles will be the hardest to shift. Do it gently and smoothly and you should get an idea of what you have.

Thanks so much for the advice I will give it a go

Is this gold?

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