Magnificent Platinum Nugget Find

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Joined
May 30, 2024
Messages
7
Location
Bullhead City, Arizona
Take a look at this monster, it weighs 1.75 pounds ( 28 ounces ) found five days ago in Mohave County Arizona. I'll have to do some research validation but I believe it is the second largest platinum nugget ever found in Arizona but I'll do more research
 

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It's definitely metallic. The luster is pretty clearly metal. And, given the average size of a man's hand, that chunk weighing nearly 2lbs means it must be fairly high density metal too.

BUT, did you determine it's actual density? And have you done any chemical tests? It should be easy to determine the density of such a solid, compact sample.

Pt's density is 21.45 g/cm3, so if your measured density is 20 g/cm3 or higher, odds are it's a platinum-group metal in the high-density range (Pt, Ir, Os). If it's lower than 20, at the very least it's not pure, but could be an alloy of Pt and Pd/Rh (densities of around 12 g/cm3), and could also have iron (one of the common native alloys found), or it could even be a native alloy of lead and silver.

So, density first, then look to its chemical characteristics. A pure Pt nugget will not react with any acid at room temps, and will only begin to dissolve in AR near boiling.
 
Also check into the historical finds recorded in the area where you found it. What metals, if any, were mined in the vicinity?
Mohave County Arizona somewhere between the incredibly productive black hills mining district and the incredibly productive San Francisco Mining District which I believe if good historical records were ever kept by proper government offices over the past 150 years this county would definitely prove it to be the most productive country in Arizona and a top five county in the nation. That being said the next step and permanent home for this is being worked on with interesting options which are being discussed
 
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