Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Oct 1, 2017 16:43:24 GMT -5
Not really gold of course but I wonder if this has an actual name? Big thick slab out of an old collection box covered in cobwebs. From what I know about where the collection originated it was probably cut 30-50 years ago. The broken side edge is very flashy gold - pyrite yes?
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fishnpinball
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Post by fishnpinball on Oct 1, 2017 17:11:52 GMT -5
I see at least 4 different metal compounds. Very hard to say what all it has without actually seeing and or testing. Pretty sure pyrites are the yellow gold colored materials though galena also shares a similar appearance. Nice specimen. Just looking at the picture the more orange gold colored areas might be gold or copper. Hard to tell from a picture.
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Post by orrum on Oct 1, 2017 19:11:14 GMT -5
Where there is pyrite there is always true gold!
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Post by Pat on Oct 1, 2017 19:32:55 GMT -5
Why don’t you think it’s gold?
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Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Oct 1, 2017 21:42:34 GMT -5
Why don’t you think it’s gold? I really dont know... maybe because stuff like that never happens to me? haha How would I test for it?
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fishnpinball
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Post by fishnpinball on Oct 2, 2017 1:57:07 GMT -5
Get a good relationship with a jeweler. They are able to do testing do determine if an item is gold and what The percentage of gold is in jewelry. Works just as well for raw gold.
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Post by fernwood on Oct 2, 2017 4:07:11 GMT -5
Nice looking. If you can flake off a small piece of the "gold", gently tap it. If if flattens out, a potential sign of true gold. If it crumbles, then not.
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Post by orrum on Oct 2, 2017 7:24:02 GMT -5
Pyrite does not shine in the shadows but gold does. Pick a spot out and try to deform it with a knife point. Gold is not hard to find in the deserts of Az. The problem is finding hold that is profitably to mine and process. No water in Az. So most gold claims are in the host rock and have to be rock crushed and then separated. This takes about 5-6 ounces per ton to break even. I can take you to two places with hold deposited in rock. One assays at 3 ounces per ton and is legally a claim. You can see the gold but it ain't worth processing. The other spot is my secret vein of azurite, malachite, chryscola, turquoise and silver and gold and copper. I didna file a claim because the minute you file it every claim jumper has access to the location and will go rob you. I spent three years horseback tracking the float back to the vein! No need to advertise it's location!
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Post by fernwood on Oct 2, 2017 8:36:16 GMT -5
Pyrite does not shine in the shadows but gold does. Pick a spot out and try to deform it with a knife point. Gold is not hard to find in the deserts of Az. The problem is finding hold that is profitably to mine and process. No water in Az. So most gold claims are in the host rock and have to be rock crushed and then separated. This takes about 5-6 ounces per ton to break even. I can take you to two places with hold deposited in rock. One assays at 3 ounces per ton and is legally a claim. You can see the gold but it ain't worth processing. The other spot is my secret vein of azurite, malachite, chryscola, turquoise and silver and gold and copper. I didna file a claim because the minute you file it every claim jumper has access to the location and will go rob you. I spent three years horseback tracking the float back to the vein! No need to advertise it's location! Great advice and experience. Same thing as with my NW Wisconsin experiences. Most gold found is within a host rock/mineral. TAkes lots of equipment and chemicals to process, but huge finds there. Appreciate not filing a claim on your special find. Wow, lots going on there of some of my favorite materials. Also appreciate the horse riding needed to get there, as I have my beloved Appy's and know the value of relying on horses to be able to do many things.
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Sabre52
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Post by Sabre52 on Oct 2, 2017 8:47:02 GMT -5
Looks like Josephine's Crown stone, a mixture of various metallic ores in quartz. Cabs up real nice. Also heard it called Siskayou Stone....Mel
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Oct 2, 2017 10:32:41 GMT -5
I collect throw away counter tops made from granite and other materials... I have a nice piece of it that has that same appearance... I just thought it was a type of granite...
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Post by roy on Oct 2, 2017 10:35:47 GMT -5
did you test it? i have some new material that is gold ore with silver as well called constellation quartz the owner of the mine is getting 3 oz per ton or so they say but he see's the value in the lapidary world so he is releasing some to be slabbed and sold
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Post by orrum on Oct 2, 2017 11:05:55 GMT -5
Great info Mel and Roy!!!
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wampidytoo
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Post by wampidytoo on Oct 3, 2017 4:46:35 GMT -5
The easiest way to tell was said above with one thing missing. When you use a knife point/awl/other rock point the mica will be black dust when you mash it and the gold will hold it's color and stay in one piece or break in two. Jim Pure mica Mica in clear quartz
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Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Oct 4, 2017 10:06:21 GMT -5
So, I'm still curious about this piece. From what I learned from items posted in this thread Josephine's Crown was tested to be strongly magnetic. This material has zero magnetic properties that I can detect. I used strong rare-earth magnets on it with no response at all. Nothing scientific employed but I did poke at the "gold" as it emerged from the broken edge and as far as I can tell it crumbles - does not bend at all. When cabbed it smells strongly and throws dark almost black mud - very reminiscent of Nipomo marcasite but not as bad. Any chance this could be Mohawkite in quartz? If it is I'm glad I wore my respirator but probably should have gloved up too.
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Post by roy on Oct 4, 2017 10:24:33 GMT -5
i just read some were if you use a coffee cup the bottom part thats rough rub it on there if it leaves a gold streak then its gold but if it is brown then its pyrite also if you cabbed one did it shed off colored water
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Post by roy on Oct 4, 2017 10:25:46 GMT -5
this could also be call apachi gold
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Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Oct 4, 2017 11:23:32 GMT -5
Thanks roy - yeah strong smell (sulfur?) and black runoff. Not as bad as Nipomo marcasite but similar. I've got a few slabs of Apache gold and it's not similar in hand. The metal in this material is a lot flakier and less integrated into the stone than Apache gold if that makes sense.
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Post by fernwood on Oct 4, 2017 13:38:07 GMT -5
Still made a great cab. Keeping an eye on this thread.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2017 16:50:43 GMT -5
I agree that it looks very much like Josephine's Crown (not mohawkite). Josephine's Crown is not strongly magnetic (perhaps a bit of weak magnetism in areas, but generally not). Contains chalcopyrite and pyrite (which give off the sulfurous smell when grinding). Also can contain minor traces of gold, silver and platinum. There is a similar-looking material from the same area of SW Oregon that is marketed under the name "pulsite" (after the mine owner). Here's a Josephine's Crown slab: Pulsite is similar, but has smaller grains of metal oxides, and less quartz. Desirable stuff and a good find. Your cabs look great, too.
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