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What is the difference between real gold and fool's gold?
Is fool's gold a metal?
How do you know if a piece of gold is a fool's gold?
Why is it called 'Fool's gold'?
Pyrite is commonly known as Fool's Gold. It has no value but it looks like real gold. Here are a few tests you can do to tell pyrite from gold.
- History of Use, Mining, Prospecting, Assay & Production
The discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in California sparked...
- History of Use, Mining, Prospecting, Assay & Production
- How to Tell The Difference Between Fools Gold and Real Gold
- Why Is It called Fool’s Gold?
- Fool’s Gold vs Real Gold
- How to Tell The Difference Between Fool’s Gold and Real Gold
- Non-Destructive Tests
- Destructive Tests
- Other Minerals That Can Also Fool You
Gold has long been a symbol of wealth and stability, valued across the world for its beauty and rarity. However, a common challenge for both enthusiasts and investors alike is distinguishing real gold from its deceiving look-alike, commonly known as fool’s gold, or pyrite. But what exactly sets these two apart, and how can you tell if you’re dealin...
Fool’s gold is commonly called pyrite. Unlike original gold, the value of pyrite is close to nothing, but its appearance, especially at a quick glance, can be similar to that of gold, successfully fooling people to believing it has a higher value. Pyrite is also readily available, making it much more affordable than real gold. For ages, the name fo...
There are minerals that bear a close resemblance to real gold, but differ significantly in terms of structure. For example, fool’s gold is not a metal, while real gold is pure metal. Fool’s gold is actually a mineral composed of iron sulfide, with a crystalline structure. Regardless, it’s not totally unheard of to find some small traces of real gol...
Up to this point, it is evident that real gold is 100% distinct from pyrite. How then can you certify real gold from fool’s gold? Fortunately, even those without much experience can perform standard tests that yield reliable results. Although obtaining samples of both pyrite and real gold is ideal for the best outcomes, I realize how challenging it...
3. Tarnish
Pyrite is mostly found in nature; thus, they will have some tarnish on their surface. On the other hand, once discovered in nature, gold remains untarnished, with a shiny appearance.
4. Specific gravity
Pyrite has a specific gravity of around 5, while gold has 19.3. In nature, all metals will contain traces of other metals that serve to reduce the specific gravity of the specimen. However, after the reduction, the specific gravity of gold will never equate to that of pyrite. A rough approximation is that the specific gravity of gold, together with its alloys, will equate to pyrite two or three times.
5. Striations
Pieces of gold are not innervated with lines. Unlike gold, crystals of pyrite have parallel lines running across their faces.
1. Hardness
As per the Mohs test, gold records a hardness of 2.5 while pyrite records a 6 to 6.5. When scratched with copper, with a Mohs hardness of 3, pyrite scratches, but gold does not. You can read about the Mohs test here.
2. Streak
According to the streak test, a yellow streak identifies gold metal while a greenish-black streak identifies pyrite.
3. Sectility
This describes the softness of the specimen. Small pieces of gold can be cut with a sharp pocket knife. Whereas, portions of pyrite, regardless of the size, cannot be cut by a sharp knife.
Pyrite is not the only mineral that can fool you! Other minerals include Chalcopyrite and biotite mica. Chalcopyrite has properties similar to that of pyrite. For example, the streak for chalcopyrite is greenish-black. However, it has a lower hardness and lowers specific gravity. To differentiate between chalcopyrite and gold, similar tests of gold...
Here’s a close-up of iron pyrite (fool’s gold) and actual gold side by side. One of the major differences between the two is that pyrite has hard edges, gold has softer edges. When you first get started, you might want to bring along a magnifying glass when you’re out panning or rockhounding.
May 25, 2021 · Whereas real gold is a metal, fool’s gold is an iron sulfide mineral. While gold is very valuable, pyrite is worth virtually nothing! Pyrite was nicknamed fool’s gold because even the most experienced jewelry buyers are sometimes tricked into buying it, thinking it’s the real thing.
- Jessica Irwin
How Fool’s Gold Is Different from Real Gold. Although pyrite and gold look very similar, they are very different in terms of structure. Unlike real gold, fool’s gold is not a metal. It is a mineral, an iron sulfide, and has a crystalline structure.
Jan 21, 2022 · Unlike gold-plated or gold-infused items, fool’s gold is not as hard to differentiate from real gold, thanks to its unique physical traits. The crystalline structure, for one, is a clear giveaway the material isn’t gold.
May 16, 2024 · While Fool’s Gold may bear a resemblance to real gold at first glance, there are key differences that can be observed with the naked eye, albeit experience will help. Understanding genuine gold’s unique properties is crucial to spotting these contrasts.
