January 24 Through February 4—TUCSON, ARIZONA: Annual show
Welcome to the GemologyOnline.com Forum
A non-profit Forum for the exchange of gemological ideas
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 8:47 pm

All times are UTC - 4 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Iron Pyrite.
PostPosted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 4:57 pm 
Offline
New to the Forum or The Quiet Type

Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2016 9:53 am
Posts: 3
Hi, I've registered to ask advice, although now I don't know if this is the right place to ask!

I want to 'pan for gold' with my kids as they have seen it on the tv and like the idea of it.
I've bought some Fools Gold (Iron Pyrite) on eBay, but the colour appears much duller and not gold like than how I remember it. Is there a way to make it brighter, or is it possible to buy some that is more 'gold colour' ?

Thanks,


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Iron Pyrite.
PostPosted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 8:56 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm
Posts: 21602
Location: San Francisco
Pyrite is what it is.
The reason it is called "fools gold" is because it often occurs in quartz veins in the vicinity of gold deposits and in alluvial deposits in gold bearing areas.
Can one make it look "golder"?
No, but gold can look similar to pyrite when it is naturally alloyed down with other metals.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Iron Pyrite.
PostPosted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 9:09 pm 
Offline
Moderator
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:31 pm
Posts: 4015
Location: North Carolina
Pyrite does vary in how goldish it looks, depending on surface oxidation or impurities. I don't know how easy it would be to alter with any particular piece though.

_________________
Rough and cut classic and exotic synthetic gems:https://store.turtleshoard.com


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Iron Pyrite.
PostPosted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 1:45 pm 
Offline
Valued Contributor

Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2012 6:29 pm
Posts: 214
Spray paint it.

Or better yet, melt or hammer some lead into nugget-like shapes, and spray paint that.

Get the lead from a fishing tackle store.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Iron Pyrite.
PostPosted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 12:59 pm 
Offline
Gemology Online Veteran

Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:11 pm
Posts: 506
Location: Moncton, Canada
If the pyrite is heavily oxidized (tending to rusty brownish on the exterior) you can get rid of the oxide coating by immersing it quickly in dilute acid, say 5% HCl. Quickly dip it, take it out & rinse. Lemon juice or vinegar may work also. There's a good chance though that if you do that the pyrite will come out so "clean" that it will look more metallic silver-ish than yellow; the yellow will come back over time as the surface naturally oxidizes again, but it might be weeks or months.

Cheers,
Hans Durstling
Moncton, Canada

_________________
Ecclesiastes 10:19


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Iron Pyrite.
PostPosted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 7:08 pm 
Offline
Gold Member

Joined: Mon May 26, 2014 9:42 pm
Posts: 1033
Actually I think it is much better to pay fro some REAL gold concentrates and pan for the real stuff. My sister was doing this with her kids about 01years ago and asked me for some concentrate. I got some on ebay from a reputable seller and her comment was "But... there was a LOT of gold in it". To which I replied - "it isn't much fun if there isn't any gold in it."

A gram of gold is less than $40 now, and that makes for a lot of flakes.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Iron Pyrite.
PostPosted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 6:21 am 
Offline
New to the Forum or The Quiet Type

Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2016 9:53 am
Posts: 3
Thanks for the replies.
I've tried vinegar, but not much difference. Coke seemed to brighten it a bit. I have some Nitric Acid so I will try that later.
Also the idea of buying real gold doesn't seem too bad now!

Chris


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Iron Pyrite.
PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2017 12:54 pm 
Offline
Gemology Online Veteran

Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:11 pm
Posts: 506
Location: Moncton, Canada
Just a caution - if you're chemically savvy no worries but if not, nitric acid fumes can be toxic.

Hans Durstling
Moncton, Canada

_________________
Ecclesiastes 10:19


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Iron Pyrite.
PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2017 1:15 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm
Posts: 21602
Location: San Francisco
Hi Chris. I'm guessing you are trying to make your kids think they are finding gold.


I have a better idea....I believe you can actually find some gold by panning in the UK.
Check this page:
http://www.discoveryuk.com/shows/gold-r ... -gold-map/

When my son was a wee lad, I took him and his friend "panning for a day" every summer in California's gold country. Jamestown, Placerville, the American River. They usually found a bit of gold and other interesting minerals and rocks that they tried to identify.

They always had a fun day and good Show and Tell when school resumed.

Some good info here: (Courtesy of www.hunting4gold.com)


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Iron Pyrite.
PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2017 5:37 pm 
Offline
Valued Contributor

Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2016 11:29 am
Posts: 142
Hans Durstling wrote:
Just a caution - if you're chemically savvy no worries but if not, nitric acid fumes can be toxic.

Hans Durstling
Moncton, Canada


Not to mention the Hydrogen Sulfide gas generated!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Iron Pyrite.
PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 3:02 am 
Offline
Gold Member

Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2013 9:00 am
Posts: 1322
Location: Wylie Texas but in Alaska for a while
If you can google "gold hog"

this guy makes mats and other mining equipment. he also sells gold concentrate. I would trust his concentrate.

It would be a lot better than trying to fake it out.

To learn how to pan, try small lead shot if you have a friend who reloads shot gun shells, see if he can give you a few.

As you learn to pan, if get down to the end and still have the lead pellets, you are doing it right.


I wish you luck, it can be a lot of fun.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 4 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 13 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
Gemology Style ported to phpBB3 by Christian Bullock