Ironically, pyrite crystals can contain small amounts of real gold, although it is notoriously hard to extract. Gold hiding within pyrite is sometimes referred to as “invisible gold”, because it is not observable with standard microscopes, but instead requires sophisticated scientific instruments.
How much are pyrite specimens worth. A Pyrite Specimen is very affordable, which is a good thing for something that really looks like gold. Its value is set at $0.15 to $0.85 per carat.
Pyrite has a cubic structure; gold does not. Take a magnet with you. Iron pyrite will stick to the magnet because of its high iron content; gold will not.
Bench-scale flotation tests confirmed the feasibility of selective separation of gold from pyrite by using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizing agent and amyl xanthate as collector. At values of pH 8 depression of pyrite increased significantly, while the high recovery of gold remained practically unchanged.
In some deposits small amounts of gold occur as inclusions and substitutions within pyrite. Some pyrites can contain 0.25% gold by weight or more. Although this is a tiny fraction of the ore, the value of gold is so high that the pyrite might be a worthwhile mining target.
Real gold can be differentiated from pyrite by its lack of crystalline structure and more pronounced yellow-gold color. Pyrite has a distinct cubic crystal structure, while real gold usually appears smooth and irregular.
Today, pyrite is used mostly in costume jewelry and beads.
Your pyrite samples do not conduct electricity, so they are not seen by metal detectors. It's normal that pyrite is not an electrical conductor. A few minerals do conduct electricity and they show up well on a metal detector, even though they are not metals.
Pure gold on its own cannot stick to a magnet. However, if you have an alloy of gold, then it could stick to a magnet. An example of a gold alloy that may stick to a magnet is gold with over 20% of its atoms replaced by iron.
Three conventional processes for recovery of gold and silver from complex pyrite or arsenopyrite ores are roasting, pressure leaching (autoclaving) and bioleaching.
Fool's Gold can be one of three minerals. The most common mineral mistaken for gold is pyrite. Chalcopyrite may also appear gold-like, and weathered mica can mimic gold as well.
Fake gold has got a brassy color, while real gold has got a yellow to golden color. Most inherent gold is amalgamated with silver metal. If the amount of silver metal is sufficient, the sample, in this case, gold, will have a whitish-yellow color.
Pyrite is not magnetic. Some related minerals are, but only weakly, not as strong as iron, so the test will likely fail anyway.
Pyrite is a special weakly magnetic mineral containing Fe(II).
If the only thing on your quartz is some pyrite, you can remove the pyrite with nitric acid, but before you attempt this, be sure you know how to work with concentrated acids.
Fool's gold is actually iron sulfide, a non-magnetic, inexpensive and abundant material that is a byproduct of petroleum production.
Real pyrite will be cold to the touch. A fake one will be warm. Hardness. Fake pyrite cannot reach natural pyrite's hardness.
Drop the gold into a jug of water to see if it sinks.
Real gold is a dense metal, so it falls directly to the bottom of the jug. Imitation gold is much lighter and floats. Real gold also doesn't rust or tarnish when wet, so if you see a discoloration, you probably have plated gold.
If you think a substance is gold, start by confirming that it has a brassy yellow color. It also has to be bright when shaded. You should be out in the sun, place it in one hand and put a shade over it with another hand. Real gold will still appear bright even with a shade over it.