Real gold is very rare and valuable.It's rare to find large pieces of gold in nature.You might be able to find smaller pieces of gold inside of rocks.If you want to find out if there is real gold in your piece of quartz, you need to take it to an expert who will tell you how much it is worth.
Step 1: You can compare weights between pieces.
Real gold is heavy.If you think a piece of quartz is gold, try to weigh it and compare it to another piece.It's possible that your quartz contains real gold if it weighs more than a similar piece.Real gold weighs 1.5 times more than fool's gold.The weight difference between the pieces of quartz will not be caused by fool's gold and other minerals.If the gold is not real, the piece with gold-colored particles inside may be lighter than the other piece.
Step 2: You should do a magnet test.
Iron pyrite is magnetic, whereas real gold is not.If you have a piece of gold-colored material, hold a strong magnet up to it.Iron and not real gold are what your rock is made of.Refrigerator magnets aren't strong enough for the gold test.You can buy stronger magnets at a home improvement store.
Step 3: You can scratch a piece of glass with gold.
Other minerals that look like gold will not scratch a piece of glass.If you see a corner or edge that looks gold, try scratching it against a piece of glass.It isn't real gold if it leaves a scratch.You can use any piece of broken glass for the test.It's important to use something that you don't mind scratching.
Step 4: There is a piece of ceramic with gold.
The back of a bathroom tile has a gold-colored streak when scratched.When scratched on ceramic, iron pyrite leaves a greenish-black colored streak.Try the back of a bathroom or kitchen tile.Most ceramic dishes are glazed and won't work for gold testing.
Step 5: You can conduct an acid test.
If you don't mind doing an acid test, you can find out if you have gold in your jewelry.If you want to cover your quartz completely, place it in a glass jar.The acid in the water will cause the crystals to fall apart in a few hours.Real gold won't be affected by the acid, but other gold-look alike materials will be damaged.Extra caution and safety measures are required when using more potent acids.It's a safe acid to use at home.
Step 6: A steel or cast-iron mortar and pestle is required.
The best way to crush rocks at home is with a mortar and pestle.It is important that it is made of a material that is harder than the gold and quartz you are crushing.The method of crushing will destroy it.Before you start crushing and panning, make sure you destroy your quartz.
Step 7: If you crush it, it will be a fine powder.
Put your piece of quartz in the mortar or bowl.When pieces start to break off, press hard with the pestle.If you crush these smaller pieces, you will get a dust of gold and quartz.If you want to focus on the areas that have gold-colored particles, you can separate the larger pieces from the smaller ones.
Step 8: Place your powders in water with a gold pan.
Online, gold pans can be found for $10 or less.Take your crushed powders and put them in a tub.After dipping your gold pan into the water, try to get as much powder into it as possible.
Step 9: When the gold separates, swirl the water around in your pan.
You can swirl the water around in your gold pan with a circular motion.Real gold will settle at the bottom of the pan.The lighter particles will rise to the top.To dispose of the gold pan, put the water into a different container and tip it slightly.You may have to repeat this step many times to get the gold to settle at the bottom.Have patience!If the gold-colored dust never settles to the bottom, then it is not real gold to begin with.
Step 10: The gold pieces need to be removed from the glass vial.
After sifting the powders, you may see gold particles at the bottom of your pan.If you want to know how much these pieces are worth, place them in a glass and take them to the lab.If you have other pieces of black sand in the bottom of your pan mixed with your gold dust, use a strong magnet to separate those out from the gold.
Step 11: There are places where gold and quartz can occur naturally.
The gold usually comes from where it has been panned in the past.Near old gold mines, volcanic activity has occurred in the past.In areas where the bedrock is fractured by volcanic activity, the veins are formed.Some areas of the US, Australia, South America, and central Europe have previously been mined for gold.
Step 12: The cracks and lines of the rock are natural.
Gold can be found along the cracks and lines of the rock.It is easy to spot in white quartz, though it can come in a wide range of colors.If you find gold in nature, you should use a geology hammer and sledge to break open the rocks.You need permission from the land owner to remove the rocks.Don't go on the land without the owner's permission.
Step 13: If you own a metal detector, use it.
A metal detector can pick up a strong signal from larger gold pieces.It's possible to get a positive metal detector signal and see other metals besides gold.Gold is often found in those that are found.If you're looking to buy a metal detector that's specifically for gold, try to find one that has a gold setting built in.