KarlB 0 Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Hello, everyone.I've been lurking in the sidelines for a while, reading.Registered a few days ago and STILL reading! There's lots of reallygood information in here! (But I'm sure you already know that.)I'm recently semi-retired and have thought I might get back intometal detecting/coin shooting/panning etc... They were interests of minemany years ago.And farther back in time than THAT, my Grandfather gave me a piece ofquartz that he was given by a mine manager in northern Quebec, backin the 1930s. Allegedly it was a fairly rich sample that the managerkept on his desk.I have no intention to sell it, but I'm curious as to its value. I tried to weighit on my powder scale, (I reload rifle ammunition) but it only goes up to 500grains, and the quartz is at least five times that weight.Here's what it looks like:There seems to be a fair bit of gold in the piece, I'd estimate about 30%.Any thoughts?Thanks for all opinions!KarlB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nugget Shooter 4,612 Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Welcome to the forum Karl! Wow nice specimen you have there, very hard to estimate value without doing a specific gravity test on it.Testing a mineral for a specific gravity value is a complicated procedure. For the prospector, it is done by water displacement and requires a beaker and a scale. The weight of the beaker is taken and written down, as well as the weight of the specimen. The beaker is partially filled up with water, and the level of the water is noted. The mineral is put into the beaker with water, and the water level rises. The difference in the amount of water before the specimen was put in and after it was put in is noted. The mineral is taken out, and the water is spilled out. Then the beaker is filled with the amount of water that the specimen displaced and measured. The difference in weight of the beaker when it was empty and the current measurement (the beaker with the displaced water) is the weight of the displaced water. The weight of the displaced water has the same volume as the specimen, but a different mass. The weight of the specimen is divided by the weight of the displaced water, and that number attained is the specific gravity of that specimen.This test cannot be conducted for an embedded mineral, but only for a single crystal or mass, for obvious reasons. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bucket 238 Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 That's a beauty!! That outta put a smile on El D's face just thinkin of what could be done with that!! Welcome Karl, yer off to a great start. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KarlB 0 Posted January 27, 2012 Author Share Posted January 27, 2012 Thanks for the welcome, Bill and Bucket! This sure looks like a nice place tohang out and learn stuff. Hopefully when the weather gets better I can dust offthe old detector and do some sweeping.And thanks for the info on specific gravity - that's going to be the next step I takeon my sample, before I make some sort of display for it. It's been hiding in mysock drawer for far too many years!Karl Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Au Seeker 3,140 Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Welcome Karl, enjoy the forum!Skip Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Terry Soloman 925 Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 Welcome from White Plains, New York! That is a beautiful specimen! Looking forward to your posts! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
El Dorado 964 Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 That is certainly a mouth watering piece! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KarlB 0 Posted January 28, 2012 Author Share Posted January 28, 2012 Thank you for the welcomes and comments, Au Seeker, Terry and El Dorado!And thank you too, for your service, El D.I took a couple more photos of the sample with a Canadian Dime for size comparison.I hope these show a little more detail. I'm no "expert" at anything, especiallyphotography! And certainly a novice (even in my advanced years) at prospecting.As I mentioned in my first post, this little ore sample was given to me by my Grandfather.(I think it was 1966 or thereabouts!) I'd like to make a nice little display stand for it, andwas thinking of taking the guts out of a music box and making a rotating platform for it.What do you guys think? Is it worth the effort?Thanks again for all your comments.Karl Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KarlB 0 Posted January 28, 2012 Author Share Posted January 28, 2012 I just KNOW I'm going to be "called" on this, so I'll explain:It's two different dimes! LOL I thought one picture would suffice, at first,and put the coin back in my pocket. Then I thought, no, I'll turn the sample overand take another shot. Of COURSE I didn't get the same dime from my pocket!And by the way, is anyone using "antique" metal detectors these days? Mine may qualify as one.Karl Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Micro Nugget 770 Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 Very cool Karl. As a boy of 14 or 15 I found my first color one province to the west in Ontario near the Saskatchewan border. Thanks for bringing back the memory. And welcome to this forum! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Micro Nugget 770 Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Oops! Did i say Saskatchewan? I meant near the Manitoba border by Douglas Lake. Well, heck, that was back around 1958! I'm lucky just to remember my own name these days... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KarlB 0 Posted February 1, 2012 Author Share Posted February 1, 2012 I'm old too, Micro Nugget! Often I walk into a room and ask myself,"What did I come in here for?" Oh, well.KarlOh, I just found something else that I'll post on another thread. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chuck,tx2 14 Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 Darn Karl, who is going to notice the dimes while looking at a rock like that? Thanks for the gold fix, I needed that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KarlB 0 Posted February 1, 2012 Author Share Posted February 1, 2012 Thanks, Chuck - you're making me blush! LOL!In all honesty, I did not find that rock, it was given to me bymy grandfather. However, I actually DID find the core sample that I just posteda few minutes ago on a different thread.darn, but Grandpa did give me a nice rock!Karl Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chuck,tx2 14 Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 It is great that you realize the value that Grand Paw bestowed on you & you treat it with respect. I gave my oldest boy a 1 Oz. silver round. He informed me that I was really cheap, He was right, I am. at the time I only paid $7 for it. But in time it would be worth more. It has & he hasn't thanked me. O well, I raised him. (:>) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GeoJack 817 Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 I just picked one of these up for my specimens. Under $15. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Goldfinger 43 Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 How did I miss this post? What a neat looking specimen. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GlennM 93 Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I'm in the same boat as you, Steve. I missed this one gawking at the core sample.I tell ya, that Klondike trip is sounding better and better daily. That is one helluva rich sample for sure. In specimen value it could bring more than spot price for the gold in host rock, easily. Very nice gift from grandpa indeed.And I, too, did not notice any dime until you put up the picture of just the two of them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KarlB 0 Posted February 22, 2012 Author Share Posted February 22, 2012 Hi again - I've been away for a few days... GeoJack - I checked out that little turntable and read a couple of reviews. LOOKS nice, but as both reviewers said,turns a bit too fast for my liking. I've found a nice little geared-down A/C motor in my junk box that should make theworkings of a FINE turntable! Besides, as an aircraft mechanic I do like to build things myself.Thanks for the comment, Goldfinger! I wish I had more similar samples to put on display.Thanks to you, too, GlennM. And you reminded me that I have to get in touch with ElDorado about "Purtying Up"that core sample so I'll have another gorgeous specimen to display!My Maple Trees are calling me! I have to see if the sap is running!(Small scale - I have two trees. LOL!)KarlB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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