Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology => Topic started by: tree_adventurer02 on 22/06/2020 10:24:09
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Hello, I just wanted to know if this rock contains gold or if I am just being too hopeful. I'm not an expert or nothing about rocks not in the slightest bit but I'm very curious and want to know what this is. I included some pictures, sorry for the lower image quality but its the best I have I hope its good enough. Thanks in advance!
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Hi Tree_adventurer 02. Welcome to TNS.
I'm no expert, either; just an erstwhile amateur. My initial impression would not be hopeful as far as gold is concerned, but some more details about the specimens, and where you found them, might give our experts a better chance of making an assessment.
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bleedin' rust.jpg (126.88 kB . 800x569 - viewed 17719 times)
Gold doesn't bleed rust, but pyrite (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrite) ("fool's gold"), will ...
(https://i0.wp.com/www.acidmetalliferousdrainage.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/pyrite-weathering.jpg?ssl=1)
https://www.acidmetalliferousdrainage.com/olympus-digital-camera-2/
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Thank you Bill S for the welcome!
As for the rocks, I do not know what kinds of details to give but I will at least try. I can't give any more details about the rock because it is in mexico and I don't have access to it. It was accidentally found a few feet underground while digging, the land is a side of a mountain the part where its sloping down but also flat enough to park a car and its all connected to a bigger mountain range. It is very close to an old volcano (around half a mile) that is no longer active but they are not connected so I'm not sure if that information does anything. There is also another mountain range a few miles away that once had a mine in the early 1900's which produced a very good amount of gold which is why I'm very curious. The mountain does not have any streams nearby that I know of but I know a lot of water runs right under the land. I don't know if that is a feature of every mountain so I'm sorry if that meant nothing. Lastly, on the surface there are a lot of mid sized and some very big rocks laying around but none of them have any interesting characteristics they just seem like normal bland rocks. That is pretty much it, I'm not sure if that was any good of a description but I tried. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!
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RD,
Why is there no rust in the other parts of the rock where it also has shiny flakes, does it take different amounts of time? Thank you for your feedback!
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... Why is there no rust in the other parts of the rock where it also has shiny flakes ...
The distribution of water wasn't uniform throughout the rock.
Water is better able to seep between some layers (strata) in the rock.
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the rock because it is in mexico and I don't have access to it.
Is there someone in Mexico who could tell you how hard/soft the flakes are?
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There may be gold there yet, quartz pyrite and gold are found together frequently.
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My initial impression would not be hopeful as far as gold is concerned, but some more details about the specimens, and where you found them, might give our experts a better chance of making an assessment.
My initial impression would not be hopeful as far as gold is concerned, but some more details about the specimens, and where you found them, might give our experts a better chance of making an assessment.