found gold

[cordilleran]

Pyrite does not have a basal cleavage like muscovite, biotite, phlogopite. lepidolite or vermiculite micas. Hence.it does not flake. When struck, however, it will give off the slight odor of sulphur.

 

[pyshodoodle]

So - what's this? Gold?
I like your rocks. Definitely would have brought them home even though I don't have a rock garden. [8|]

 

[cyberdigger]

Kate, that type of gold paint is usually made of brass powder.. looks like there's some copper in there too.. or is this some of your party make-up? []

 

[pyshodoodle]

Charlie - I found it in the dump (most ended up in the dirt[8|]).. there are a couple chunks that look like they are copper (oxidated), but most of it is really 'gold looking' for lack of a better word. Does brass hold it's color like that for a long time? I figured whatever the binder was, it evaporated.... this is very very powdery.

Could use it for party make-up! Just would be curious what I'm putting on my face.[]

 

[cyberdigger]

I misspoke before.. bronze is the most common "gold paint" ingredient.. depending on the other stuff in the mixture, the luster could be preserved despite the powdery consistency.. it was generally mixed with laquer or varnish...

 

[photolitherland]

Its pyrite for sure. Im about to graduate with a degree in geology and we find pyrite sort of like this from time to time in the shale beds north of where I go to school. Its high in Fe and it precipitates usually around a central fossil thats usually made of calcite. Those are some pretty big chunks of pyrite though, nice finds.

 

[cordilleran]

What are you going to do with a degree in geology?

 

[capsoda]

Wack a piece of it with a maul. If it breaks put it in your rock garden. If it mashes take a piece to a jeweler and have it tested.

Looks like slag or casting material to me.

 

[Just Dig it]

The gold powder looks like pigment...

 

[Plumbata]

Nodules of pyrite; FeS2, or chalcopyrite, CuFeS2. I tend towards the former due to the morphology and color, but I ain't a geologist and just collect the crap for fun, so i am not certain. It is almost definitely a metallic sulfide though.

I would be really happy with those finds, honestly. Nice job!