Another New Guy, Fooled By My Solution? No Gold Precipitated

[Gemsngold87]

This must be a newer type of low specific gravity Gold, which floats on top of the carrying groundmass. I read the whole thread before replying, and was wondering if anybody caught the fact that the " Gold" was the top layer in the settled material, in the top photo. Should be at the bottom of the settled material, if I am correct.

Per the bold print in the above quote --- Then it is likely ether iron pyrite (fools gold) or gold "sulfides" & not actual gold metal

Kurt

im starting to wonder the same thing here... except that I really cant stress how heavy this stuff is and its inability to differentiate itself when agitated like in a gold pan or in that filter flask. I dont have a stir stick that long to reach down in there and stir it. it would honestly just break the stir stick and trying to swirl it is somewhat helpful and gets the top layer to mix around but the bottom just sits there all cemented to itself.
I was wondering if whats happening is that the solution is digesting the grey material faster than the gold and forming that layer on top as it works its way through the material.
To make matters worse and more confusing as I stated above I added more material to the mix when I thought that I saw gold in there and got greedy I added another 1000 grams to it and more AR by that time, there was so much in my filter flask that giving it a swirl to mix it in and settle any gold to the bottom would've been hazardous and so I left it alone.
I just wanted to be clear that the gold wouldnt have been able to work its way down to the bottom because again this stuff is like a cement when it settles. Looking at my pictures that I have it actually looks like the grey material, aside from the top little bit, looks dry and I dont think even the solution made its way down there to the bottom.

thanks for the thoughts

 

[Gemsngold87]

also just a thought, if it is pyrite in there. wouldnt the AR eat it up fairly quickly? it wouldnt last long enough to form a layer like that I guess is what im asking?

 

[adam mizer]

Did you test for magnetic properties maybe?

Also wonder about corundum for the gray heavy's?
Corundum is a crystalline form of aluminium oxide (Al2O3) typically containing traces of iron, titanium, vanadium, and chromium.

 

[Gemsngold87]

Did you test for magnetic properties maybe?

Also wonder about corundum for the gray heavy's?
Corundum is a crystalline form of aluminium oxide (Al2O3) typically containing traces of iron, titanium, vanadium, and chromium.

I have ran a magnet through the crushed fine material and nothing sticks to it maybe a few little dusty things but nah it’s not magnetic which is interesting.
No it isn’t corundum, this stuff is actually quite metallic and will polish up like a mirror. I don’t know what to call it and i hate to describe it because it sounds so dumb after reading it and i don’t know what an ore technically describes, but I wouldn’t call it an ore either as it seems to be quite pure. The pieces vary in purity but most have a crystal habit that can be seen. I could post some pictures of the uncrushed pieces maybe someone on here could help identify them. Ima little nervous about it though because my luck is it’ll be something with no value and I’ll just have this whole forum rolling their eyes at me haha but if you guys want to see some pics of it I’ll post a few of interesting looking ones

 

[goldshark]

I have ran a magnet through the crushed fine material and nothing sticks to it maybe a few little dusty things but nah it’s not magnetic which is interesting.
No it isn’t corundum, this stuff is actually quite metallic and will polish up like a mirror. I don’t know what to call it and i hate to describe it because it sounds so dumb after reading it and i don’t know what an ore technically describes, but I wouldn’t call it an ore either as it seems to be quite pure. The pieces very in purity but most have a crystal habit that can be seen. I could post some pictures of the uncrushed pieces maybe someone on here could help identify them. Ima little nervous about it though because my luck is it’ll be something with no value and I’ll just have this whole forum rolling their eyes at me haha but if you guys want to see some pics of it I’ll post a few of interesting looking ones

No worries, this is where the central scrutinizers lurk. We are here to help though. Everybody has to start somewhere, and I have had people roll their eyes at me a time or 2. Not as much these days. Pictures would be helpful, but we only guess at what it truly is. An assay from an accredited lab is your very good friend. Costly initially, but will save you money in the long run. A brief description of the geologic setting is helpful. Wash the rough specimen, don't polish it with a wire brush. Clear pictures are better than blurry ones.

 

[adam mizer]

I have ran a magnet through the crushed fine material and nothing sticks to it maybe a few little dusty things but nah it’s not magnetic which is interesting.
No it isn’t corundum, this stuff is actually quite metallic and will polish up like a mirror. I don’t know what to call it and i hate to describe it because it sounds so dumb after reading it and i don’t know what an ore technically describes, but I wouldn’t call it an ore either as it seems to be quite pure. The pieces very in purity but most have a crystal habit that can be seen. I could post some pictures of the uncrushed pieces maybe someone on here could help identify them. Ima little nervous about it though because my luck is it’ll be something with no value and I’ll just have this whole forum rolling their eyes at me haha but if you guys want to see some pics of it I’ll post a few of interesting looking ones

Yes please do post a picture or two.
Don't know if that helps but its possible maybe to get an idea about it.

He said he's in Rexburg area Idaho this is approaching to west boundary of Yellowstone but on Idaho side.
Think you can see the Tetons in the distance and its a beautiful site.
I used to repair and commission generators for Phone Utility and State Utility up in these towns.

 

[Gemsngold87]

Yes please do post a picture or two.
Don't know if that helps but its possible maybe to get an idea about it.

He said he's in Rexburg area Idaho this is approaching to west boundary of Yellowstone but on Idaho side.
Think you can see the Tetons in the distance and its a beautiful site.
I used to repair and commission generators for Phone Utility and State Utility up in these towns.

Oh it's beautiful here for sure, quite interesting geologically as well, lots of hydrothermal and mountain building. It's cold too though, just got like 6 inches of snow the last couple days and more to come.

 

[Gemsngold87]

Here's those pics. Hopefully you guys find em as interesting as I do. The sun was going down so I barely had enough light but I think they turned out pretty good. Pics never do them justice but hopefully you can make out the metallic sheen and wire like crystal habit. I haven't polished any of these it's all natural if it isnt slag material. I dont want to dump a bunch of pics on here, it's not a mineral identification site after all but yeah this is what ive been crushing up, the uglier ones that is.

 

[goldshark]

Here's those pics. Hopefully you guys find em as interesting as I do. The sun was going down so I barely had enough light but I think they turned out pretty good. Pics never do them justice but hopefully you can make out the metallic sheen and wire like crystal habit. I haven't polished any of these it's all natural if it isnt slag material. I dont want to dump a bunch of pics on here, it's not a mineral identification site after all but yeah this is what ive been crushing up, the uglier ones that is.
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Hard to tell if the rock is gray, or a metallic sheen on pic #1. #2 could be Calcium or a silica rock, put a drop of acid on it, to see if it fizzes.#3 looks metallic also. #4 looks like coral or high temp Silica or calcium. Narrow the search with the acid test. #5 silica.#6 Jasper or Chalcedony. Silica rich water deposition. Looks brecciated (broken in a fault, then re cemented with silica rich solution ). 1,2,&3 look like they could be Ag nuggets. As stated, pics never do a rock justice. how did you find these? See if they sound off by a metal detector.

 

[mcmva_jeff]

Hi GemsnGold87 - Welcome to the forum first of all. It sounds like you have iron pyrite "fools gold". No worries, I have it by the ton all over my property. It can contain gold, they had a big operation in Dillwyn back in the 1850's? Which is in the center of the pyrite belt of Virginia. They crushed the ore and used cyanide leach piles, if I remember my history correctly. A better way to find out is to have your ore assayed. I would recommend using Reed Labs in Carlsbad, CA: http://www.reedlab.altervista.org/price.html they are quick and do a great job. You can get an idea if you have gold & silver in your ore for $50. Get a 5 gallon bucket of material and pan/sluice through the contents until it to get your 1/2 pound sample.

It's interesting to see what in your ground.
HTH - Jeff.

 

[adam mizer]

Here's those pics. Hopefully you guys find em as interesting as I do. The sun was going down so I barely had enough light but I think they turned out pretty good. Pics never do them justice but hopefully you can make out the metallic sheen and wire like crystal habit. I haven't polished any of these it's all natural if it isnt slag material. I dont want to dump a bunch of pics on here, it's not a mineral identification site after all but yeah this is what ive been crushing up, the uglier ones that is.
View attachment 65861View attachment 65863View attachment 65864
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I found this phone app ROCK IDENTIFIER.
Took a picture of your rocks and it came up with: Puddingstone a conglomerate.
Might be correct might not, however it may be a help.
Thought it was interesting and possibly useful but the app costs just under $30 a year.

 

[adam mizer]

However when I look at Puddingstone images online I can't really find anything similar.
Still think an app like this can be helpful to others/prospectors.
The image or rock database is huge.

 

[galenrog]

Six months of field experience trumps ALL of the rock ID apps.

 

[Gemsngold87]

Six months of field experience trumps ALL of the rock ID apps.

agreed, except that even after the experience is learned there are still some gems that just have to be taken to a gemologist and if your plan is to sell them... if you want more than pennies on the dollar it has to be certified and that isnt cheap either. Time consuming as well...

 

[Gemsngold87]

but hey y'all, I kind of disappeared there for a bit. I guess I kind of got a little discouraged and burnt out on all this. but im back, and have a couple of questions.

It was mentioned that AR isnt the best for ore. would something like ferric chloride be a decent option? I only ask because I had planned on ordering some nitric but when I didn't get a positive with my stannous test I didn't order any.

but I have some Ferric Chloride. I asked AI if this would do and it said that it would, only it's not so selective on the metals that could go into solution and so in the end I would end up refining. which is fine because im pretty sure the refining process is repeated anyways and so id be getting these metals out regardless.

Just curious on everyone's thoughts on this.
thanks guys

 

[Yggdrasil]

but hey y'all, I kind of disappeared there for a bit. I guess I kind of got a little discouraged and burnt out on all this. but im back, and have a couple of questions.

It was mentioned that AR isnt the best for ore. would something like ferric chloride be a decent option? I only ask because I had planned on ordering some nitric but when I didn't get a positive with my stannous test I didn't order any.

but I have some Ferric Chloride. I asked AI if this would do and it said that it would, only it's not so selective on the metals that could go into solution and so in the end I would end up refining. which is fine because im pretty sure the refining process is repeated anyways and so id be getting these metals out regardless.

Just curious on everyone's thoughts on this.
thanks guys

So what did the assay say?

 

[Gemsngold87]

So what did the assay say?

oh there hasn't been an assay done yet. I won't be able to get one done until I get something of value out of these rocks that I can trade in. Im not sure if I trust my stannous but it didn't show a positive for gold. So it's either pyrite that im seeing which I doubt because as I said it's heavy and doesn't really move when it's by itself. I have some experience with finding pyrite in my gold pan and mica and it's not light like that at all. That being said, it is quite fine and does move around I guess but so does flour gold with enough water movement or itll move because the material around it moves it as it goes with the water. But it could be pyrite or something else for sure.

 

[Gemsngold87]

Hi GemsnGold87 - Welcome to the forum first of all. It sounds like you have iron pyrite "fools gold". No worries, I have it by the ton all over my property. It can contain gold, they had a big operation in Dillwyn back in the 1850's? Which is in the center of the pyrite belt of Virginia. They crushed the ore and used cyanide leach piles, if I remember my history correctly. A better way to find out is to have your ore assayed. I would recommend using Reed Labs in Carlsbad, CA: http://www.reedlab.altervista.org/price.html they are quick and do a great job. You can get an idea if you have gold & silver in your ore for $50. Get a 5 gallon bucket of material and pan/sluice through the contents until it to get your 1/2 pound sample.

It's interesting to see what in your ground.
HTH - Jeff.

Thanks for the info is that out of one of the labs from GIA? Im constantly on their website and I know they have a school down there that I was thinking about enrolling in. If only I had the funds.... lol

Ive tried to do what your suggesting with the material and I think that because its so pure? consisting of mostly some metallic substance... that what happens is, when I get it in the bucket and shake it about, sure.. im sure that most of the heavy go to the bottom, but the problem with panning the top most layer of it off is such a problem because even the top most layer is heavy like gold and doesn't move. its alot like trying to pan out the flour gold from black sand.

 

[adam mizer]

@Gemsngold87
Do any of these 2 rocks look like yours?

 

[Gemsngold87]

@Gemsngold87
Do any of these 2 rocks look like yours?

no the first of yours is a silicate maybe a quartzite and the other in my humble opinion a slag?