Pyrite in quartz vien
- Thread starter ben2363
- Start date
Help Support Prospecting Australia:
How far away is the nearest known occurrence of gold?
ben2363 said:
can be a good indicator if its a type of layer/vain of pyrites in the slate or in-between the slate and a quartz reef
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2015
- Messages
- 86
- Reaction score
- 135
My observations were that the gold was not contained in or in contact with the pyrite. There was however plenty of gold in the quartz veins in the same vicinity. This was from a underground narrow vein gold mine in a very well known gold feild.
Crush and sample would be the only way to know for sure.
Crush and sample would be the only way to know for sure.
Gold in pyrite is tricky. Firstly, you need to be sure that the pyrite is of the same age as the gold (a geologist can tell, but it is tricky for anyone else). Secondly, when gold does occur in pyrite and arsenopyrite, it can be extremely rich in some cases e.g more than 10 oz/tonne but so fine that if you dolly it, it can float on water simply because of the surface tension of water (less than one micron grain size). No easy answer, try dollying it - otherwise assay is the only way.
Could the test using Stannous chloride to indicate the presence of Gold be used on a sample of crushed Pyrite.?goldierocks said:
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2013
- Messages
- 860
- Reaction score
- 1,581
You have some good answers to your OP question above so I dont need to add anything , just sharing these pics though.
I have had this speci for years , its got some weight in it but its been packed away and I have never waved a detector over it , pyrite is well bonded under the quartz , its about 4 inches long.
I have had this speci for years , its got some weight in it but its been packed away and I have never waved a detector over it , pyrite is well bonded under the quartz , its about 4 inches long.
goldierocks said:
I said in-between the slate and vain as an indicator to gold I've found this handy because in some places there's gold in the quartz reef. not in/with the gold directly/combined to it chemically. are you a qualified geologist ?? or even worked in the mining industry ? because most of the things you say don't make much sense to me maybe not enough actual field study and more just reading of books on geology.
crustydog said:
yes that is what I mean like a sandwich quartz vain in the middle slate both sides and pyrite in-between the slate and quartz reef have found this to be a valuable indicator as gold is sometimes found in the quartz reef.
CreviceSucker said:
beautiful specimen
Hunting the yellow said:
You're not doing yourself any favours by questioning the credentials of one of the most highly-qualified and experienced contributors to PA, mate.
From https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=125651#p125651:
goldierocks said:
Probably, combined with many decades consulting to the mining industry on gold, on many continents, and finding at least one gold mineHunting the yellow said:
Always thought I was qualified
All tongue in cheek - what I told you was correct though...
I think someone else not you made that as a general comment - you only provided the information about how the pyrite occurred in the same way in your example AFTER I replied to you. I would agree pyrite of that type is probably the same age as the gold. Not clear what " most of the things" were that you disagreed with. Happy to give examples if you clarify.
goldierocks said:
This is the one (scroll down):
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=30256&p=1
