How Can You Tell the Difference between Mica Flakes, Pyrite Flakes, and Gold Flakes?

Whether you’re gold panning or shopping at a garage sale or digging through your attic, when you see gold flakes it’s an exciting moment, especially if they turn out to be real gold.  But how can you be sure it’s gold and not mica or pyrite (also known as Fool’s Gold)?  Here are some things you can try:

  • Take tweezers and bend one.  Gold will bend, but pyrite and mica usually will not.  If the flakes shatter or break, they aren’t gold.  Gold will simply bead up.  Note that if you don’t bend it far enough, mica might spring back since it does have SOME flexibility.
  • If you poke pyrite or mica flakes with a pin, they will usually break apart into even smaller flakes, whereas gold will dent and spread like soft lead.
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The Hunt for Black Opals in Virgin Valley, Nevada: Royal Peacock Opal Mines

Fire OpalsMillions of years ago, Virgin Valley (located in the northwest corner of Humboldt County, Nevada) was covered by lakes and forests.  However, after numerous volcanic eruptions, the forests were buried under hundreds of feet of ash.  Under the tons of rock and ash, common silica was transformed into Fire Opal. 

Now the area is a high, arid desert, cut by rugged mountain ranges; and the opals are beautiful.  They weren’t discovered until the 1800s, and serious Virgin Valley prospecting began in 1905.  While there are several commercial mining operations and more than 200 private claims in the area which are producing Black Opals and Fire Opals, the Royal Peacock Opal Mines allows the public to dig for opals.  All you find are yours to keep!

This is the only place in the world where jet black opals with color are found.

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Prospecting for Diamonds in Arkansas

Diamonds held in a hand.If you want to dig for diamonds, head for the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas, the only diamond-producing site in the world where the public can search for diamonds.  It is located two miles southeast of Murfreesboro on Arkansas Highway 301.

For only $7 per day (age 6-12, $4; under 6, free), you can explore the 37-acre plowed field which is the eroded surface of an ancient, gem-bearing volcanic pipe.  It is plowed periodically to turn the soil to bring more diamonds to the surface.

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