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06-17-2008, 11:05 AM gold-digger Joined on 01-19-2008 Posts 29 What the Silver looking Stuff Hi all I been looking around in the local Creeks etc. and was wonder if anyone could tell me what the silver stuff in the picture is? or is it silver? Thanks Everyone , Great Comminuty board you have here and i always keep comming back! Their is a little gold show their but not sure what the silver looking stuff is? Well i trird to post be wasn't able to, so here is a link to the picture i asking about! http://76.125.27.41:6000/mines/images/ll2.jpg      Report

06-17-2008, 6:36 PM Lucky_Gnome Joined on 10-28-2007 Posts 21 Re: What the Silver looking Stuff Not to sound like a smart alec...but that photo looks like something that came from the bottom of a fish aquarium with all the colored glass looking stuff in it. Was that photo from a gem stone mine somewhere? Anyway, with the angular edges on the silverish looking stuff...i'd say it's pyrite. I've seen alot of NC gold covered in mercury...{natural & leftovers from the old timers} but it looks nothing like that. I've prospected in creeks and rivers all over central and western NC, and never had a pan that looked that colorful. It's interesting...that's for sure.    Report

06-17-2008, 6:58 PM gold-digger Joined on 01-19-2008 Posts 29 Re: What the Silver looking Stuff No this isn't out of a fish tank, actually it's from a creek here in S.C. on the lower edge of Carorlina Slate Belt, in Edgefied County, right off the National Forest Area which borders the Slate Belt. This photo was taken with a microscope running around 40X i'm guessing, maybe even as low as around 30x, kinda hard to tell exactly since the microscope is adjustable, this is fine stuff probably around 60+ mesh stuff, maybe even a little smaller that that, i know it's very colorful for sure. Have seen different colors of quartz etc. and all the black sand their shows up very well. This is a Creek thats mostly dry in the summer season, but has water in it somewhat enought to run a sluice at times farily well, I know since this is in the lower slate belt area, this stuff has been crushed very well by mother nature. But thanks, their's a lot of the pyrite(sliver stuff in their) Thanks Again!!!!!!     Report

06-17-2008, 7:03 PM twig/al Joined on 01-24-2006 Gadsden, Alabama Posts 4,607 Re: What the Silver looking Stuff gold-digger, If you get a piece of it and put pressure on it with a sharp point, does it bend or shatter into a white dust??? twig/al Alabama Prospecting Supply www.alabamaprospectingsupply.com Email: tom@alabamaprospectingsupply.com Southeast Treasure Hunters Forum www.southeasttreasurehunters.com    Report

06-17-2008, 8:08 PM gold-digger Joined on 01-19-2008 Posts 29 Re: What the Silver looking Stuff Havn't been able yet to find a piece big enought to really put a lot of pressure on it, but squizzing it seem's to flaten it, not seening any dust at all! Gonna see if i can find a larger piece to try!    Report

06-17-2008, 8:41 PM Lucky_Gnome Joined on 10-28-2007 Posts 21 Re: What the Silver looking Stuff That explains why it looks odd...I didn't realize it was magnified 30x....just thought it was a fuzzy photo of actual size material. Take some of it outside in the open breeze...place it on an old spoon you'll never use again and heat it with a propane torch. If it pops and bounces, it's pyrite or mica...if it suddenly turns gold then you'll know it was mercury covered. DO NOT BREATHE THE VAPORS WHILE HEATING!!!!!    Report

06-17-2008, 9:50 PM gold-digger Joined on 01-19-2008 Posts 29 Re: What the Silver looking Stuff Cool i'll try that one tomorrow, thanks for the information, didn't think about doing that!!!!!!    Report

06-18-2008, 3:57 AM C-17A Joined on 01-30-2006 Posts 356 Re: What the Silver looking Stuff I'd say IF you can separate a few pieces, and smash them with a hammer........and see if it flattens out or crushes to dust you'll know if it's metal or some crystalline element. Let us know... Randy    Report

06-18-2008, 7:22 AM russau Joined on 02-06-2006 st. louis missouri Posts 1,118 Re: What the Silver looking Stuff id say the small silver particals are mercury encapsulating another element.    Report

06-18-2008, 11:33 AM ghost Joined on 03-17-2006 Marksville, LA 71351 Posts 459 Re: What the Silver looking Stuff How does it act in the pan? If it is heavy it is probably an amalgam of some sort, mercury being fairly heavy in its own right. If that is the case, the heating will burn off the mercury. Be careful, the vapors are dangerous. Paul Prospector and small scale miner (so far)    Report

08-10-2008, 7:13 PM gold-digger Joined on 01-19-2008 Posts 29 Re: What the Silver looking Stuff Thanks, Most Seems to fragment into smaller pieces like a crystal would i surpose, doesn't act like metal! Can't seem to post a pic here but heres what it looks like cruched!   http://76.125.27.41:6000/mines/images/stuff4.jpg    Report

08-16-2008, 2:51 AM ADAWG Joined on 12-03-2007 VIRGINIA Posts -12 Re: What the Silver looking Stuff It's no mystery metal ....It's just Pyrite ....I work with this stuff all the time .. Thanks UGA DAWGS FAN-ADDICT    Report

08-17-2008, 5:18 AM gold-digger Joined on 01-19-2008 Posts 29 Re: What the Silver looking Stuff Hey thanks Adawg, kinda figured that was probably what that was!     Report

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