How do you know pyrite (fool's gold) from real gold?
By writersedge
@writersedge (22563)
United States
February 11, 2008 8:26am CST
I'm interested in panning for gold and doing other activities to find gold this summer. But how do I know when I've found gold and when I've found its look-a-like?
2 responses
@johannstrauss (10)
• Slovenia
11 Feb 08
I guess one way to tell fool's gold from the real thing is comapring their densities. The density of pure gold is 19.3 g·cm-3, the density of pyrite is about 4-5 g·cm-3. So the same volume of gold would have to weigh 4-5 times more than pyrite.
you'll have to have a really presice scale..
The easier way requires some courage...
hit the nugget with a hammer. If it flatens flatten, it's gold, if it falls apart, it's something else.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
12 Feb 08
Wouldn't I need some of each to compare by the first way?
The second one sounds really interesting and more "do-able." Thank you very much for your response.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
11 Aug 08
I meant if I was outdoors looking at something shiny, how do I know the difference. Take care
