melanievoita Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 here in arizona fountain valley.There is some dry washes northeast of town that have alot of black sand with alot of gold flakes its really small stuff .it stays at the bottom when you pan it.Im wondering if its gold.There is so much out there if anyone cares.by like pima and stagecoach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Relichunter2 Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 (edited) You should grab all you can Edited January 5, 2015 by Relichunter2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homefire Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Sounds like easy digging to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melanievoita Posted January 5, 2015 Author Share Posted January 5, 2015 there is not fake gold flakes that come in black sand ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Au Seeker Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 there is not fake gold flakes that come in black sand ? Melanie, Yes the flakes could be pyrite, but then again it could be gold as well, if the flakes are big enough you could do a simple test to see if it's pyrite, use a sewing needle stick one of the flakes, if it breaks/crumbles it most likely pyrite, if it indents like it was a piece of lead, it could very well be gold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoser John Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Alas Lass you never know till ya try........... John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steel Pan Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 If it's really glittery/shiny, most likely pyrite.Au Seeker's idea is a good field test and very fool proof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisski Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Always had terrible luck with the black sands left on the top layer at the creeks in the Wickenburg area. Three times I've filled a five gallon bucket, ran it through the gold cube, got no more than 4 specks from the first sample, none from the others. I then reran each sample separately through a Gold wheel and got nothing else. Takes a long time to run a five gallon bucket through a gold wheel scoop by scoop. I suspect the four little specks I found the first time around were contaminated, left over gold from a prior run from a different area with gold bearing sands. On other trips, several times I've been upset to see the pieces I thought were gold crumble by crushing it with a knife, meaning it was pyrite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DolanDave Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 I run black sands in a small ball mill crusher, with mercury for a couple hours, then retort the mercury with pretty good results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melanievoita Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 you cant see real good with these pictures a poked a piece with a needle and it didnt crumble its more like gold leaf I can smear it .the black sand is real magnetic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonoran Dave Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Well if it didnt crumble...might be gold.Especially since you already said it stays in the pan when panning. Pyrite will float out pretty quick. Way before black sands do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boulder dash Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Mica Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Au Seeker Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Mica I agree with BD, if you can smear it, it's not gold, gold is a metal and will not smear, it will flatten out and or bend, best candidate is mica. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melanievoita Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 I was kind of thinking that too there is just too much out there also .Ill keep trying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisski Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 Dolan Dave--Are the black sands you bring through the ball crusher cons left over after the visible gold is picked out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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