How to Spot Fool's Gold
Fool's gold, also known as iron pyrites, is a brass or gold-colored mineral that is easily mistaken for real gold. The early miners during the gold rush often thought they had made a fortune, only to discover their finds were not real gold. While real gold holds monetary value, fool's gold is virtually worthless. The most common United States locations for pyrite are in Utah, Colorado, Illinois, Pennsylvania and New York.
Things You'll Need:
Magnet
Steel
Identify the Qualities of Fool's Gold
Step
1
Look at the physical properties of fool's gold (also known as pyrite). It is easy to spot the light-yellow color with a metallic luster or brassy look. Real gold is recognized as more gold to silvery-yellow in appearance.
Step
2
Check for the smell of sulfur. Iron sulfide is 47-percent iron and 53-percent sulfur. This iron-sulfide composition gives off sulfur-dioxide fumes that have a distinct odor (like rotten eggs).
Step
3
Get a magnet to spot fool's gold. The iron sulfide in fool's gold will be attracted to the magnet, but pure gold will not.
Step
4
Strike the pyrite (fool's gold) with steel. If it is truly pyrite, it will produce a spark. Pure gold is softer and will flatten.
Step
5
Look closely at the face of the fool's gold (pyrite) crystal. It is most commonly striated, but it can also develop as coarse granules that are easy to spot.
Step
6
Test for fool's gold with a ceramic tile. Scratch a real gold nugget on the tile, and it will leave a yellow-gold streak. If the nugget is fool's gold, it will leave a greenish-black streak.
Step
7
Scratch the metal to determine the hardness. Real gold can be cut, but fool's gold has a brittle hardness and a specific gravity of five.
Step
8
Compare the shape of the gold. Real gold is most common in nuggets or small sheets while pyrite is most often found in cubes or octahedrons.
Tips & Warnings
Look for fool's gold (pyrite) in areas where real gold and copper are mined. Finding pyrite is an indication that mining for gold in the area may prove successful.
Avoid getting taken in and paying hard-earned money for a fake. Buy gold jewelry only from reputable jewelers. If the price sounds too good to be real gold, it may be fool's gold, as it is frequently used in costume jewelry.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2095330_spot-fools-gold.html
Fool's gold, also known as iron pyrites, is a brass or gold-colored mineral that is easily mistaken for real gold. The early miners during the gold rush often thought they had made a fortune, only to discover their finds were not real gold. While real gold holds monetary value, fool's gold is virtually worthless. The most common United States locations for pyrite are in Utah, Colorado, Illinois, Pennsylvania and New York.
Things You'll Need:
Magnet
Steel
Identify the Qualities of Fool's Gold
Step
1
Look at the physical properties of fool's gold (also known as pyrite). It is easy to spot the light-yellow color with a metallic luster or brassy look. Real gold is recognized as more gold to silvery-yellow in appearance.
Step
2
Check for the smell of sulfur. Iron sulfide is 47-percent iron and 53-percent sulfur. This iron-sulfide composition gives off sulfur-dioxide fumes that have a distinct odor (like rotten eggs).
Step
3
Get a magnet to spot fool's gold. The iron sulfide in fool's gold will be attracted to the magnet, but pure gold will not.
Step
4
Strike the pyrite (fool's gold) with steel. If it is truly pyrite, it will produce a spark. Pure gold is softer and will flatten.
Step
5
Look closely at the face of the fool's gold (pyrite) crystal. It is most commonly striated, but it can also develop as coarse granules that are easy to spot.
Step
6
Test for fool's gold with a ceramic tile. Scratch a real gold nugget on the tile, and it will leave a yellow-gold streak. If the nugget is fool's gold, it will leave a greenish-black streak.
Step
7
Scratch the metal to determine the hardness. Real gold can be cut, but fool's gold has a brittle hardness and a specific gravity of five.
Step
8
Compare the shape of the gold. Real gold is most common in nuggets or small sheets while pyrite is most often found in cubes or octahedrons.
Tips & Warnings
Look for fool's gold (pyrite) in areas where real gold and copper are mined. Finding pyrite is an indication that mining for gold in the area may prove successful.
Avoid getting taken in and paying hard-earned money for a fake. Buy gold jewelry only from reputable jewelers. If the price sounds too good to be real gold, it may be fool's gold, as it is frequently used in costume jewelry.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2095330_spot-fools-gold.html
