How to Know if the Flash in Your Pan is REAL Gold
Fool's gold, iron pyrite, mica... no matter what you call it, at first glance it looks like real gold and sparkles like real gold in the sunlight or when viewed under water, but how do you know FOR SURE if those gleaming flakes are worth something... or exactly nothing? The quickest and simplest test is to examine your sample in the shade, not in the sunlight. Real gold retains its yellow sheen even in shadow, whereas fool's gold does not.
Also keep in mind that gold is one of the heaviest elements known. Pure gold has a density (specific gravity) of about 19, which means that it weights about 19 times as much as an equivalent amount of water. On the other hand, mica, often mistaken for gold, has a specific gravity of about 2.3. Real gold sinks to the bottom of a gold pan; flakes of mica typically float. Gold is soft and malleable. It can be cut with a knife and won't splinter. You can even "dent" it with a pin. Fool's gold, though, is hard and flaky. Use a magnifying glass and you can easily see the flaky structure of fool's gold, whereas real gold will appear more like a smooth blob. Another way is to try a chemical test. Put a drop of hydrochloric (muriatic) acid on your sample. Real gold will not be affected, but if you see a slight foaming action and the sample begins to dissolve, you know it's not real. Gold Test Kits are another option. Fool's gold is the bane of every gold prospector's existence! If you see a flash in your gold pan, use the above methods to test it before yelling out "Eureka!" and you'll be sure it's the real thing. Good luck! |
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