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Hi guys just wondering if anyone can identify this?
Can anyone help identify this
- Thread starter Wizard_Smith
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Help Support Prospecting Australia:
Without the benefit of any standard mineral tests and just by the look, I’ll have a go with a sulphide mineral such as pyrite (iron);or chalcopyrite (copper iron). If under a high power hand lens the crystals are cubic then it would most likely be pyrite. A hot oxidizing flame test against it should show green if it was chalcopyrite.
These ores can also be auriferous.
If it is from an existing mine dump just look up mining records to see what was being mined.
If you have discovered an unknown seam of the material, it may be worth your while to take it to your states museum for identification. You don’t have to disclose the exact place you found it If you feel you may be onto something.
These ores can also be auriferous.
If it is from an existing mine dump just look up mining records to see what was being mined.
If you have discovered an unknown seam of the material, it may be worth your while to take it to your states museum for identification. You don’t have to disclose the exact place you found it If you feel you may be onto something.
What it's weight like.
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Thanks Jeff, I was thinking pyrite. I didn’t find this one. A mate of mine found it in Pine Creek, NT in a dry creek bed. He’s not a prospector and was just walking with his family and spotted it. I think it broke his heart when I told him i thought it was pyrite.
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Not sure on weight I’ll try and get him to weigh it and let me know.
Maybe Nickel?
A little more on flame tests.
Copper is one of the easiest to identify in a flame test and in many cases is THE diagnostic test..
When doing a flame test ensure the sample is not placed in the blue part of the gas flame. The blue part of a gas flame is caused by oxidising methane and could confuse the colour signature. Where the blue finishes and the flame turns near or completely colourless is where the methane has completely burnt, is the hottest part of the flame and where the sample should be placed.
The thermal energy of the flame excites the copper ions and this energy is released as the copper ions cool down as they move to cooler parts of the flame. This energy is released in discreet packets as photons of different wavelengths representing different colours. Quantum mechanics in operation.
Unfortunately gold is not one of the elements that can be easily identified by this method as the energy levels required for ionising and exciting gold atoms would be far in excess of the hottest flame available to us. XRF type machines however can do this by using high energy X rays.
Copper is one of the easiest to identify in a flame test and in many cases is THE diagnostic test..
When doing a flame test ensure the sample is not placed in the blue part of the gas flame. The blue part of a gas flame is caused by oxidising methane and could confuse the colour signature. Where the blue finishes and the flame turns near or completely colourless is where the methane has completely burnt, is the hottest part of the flame and where the sample should be placed.
The thermal energy of the flame excites the copper ions and this energy is released as the copper ions cool down as they move to cooler parts of the flame. This energy is released in discreet packets as photons of different wavelengths representing different colours. Quantum mechanics in operation.
Unfortunately gold is not one of the elements that can be easily identified by this method as the energy levels required for ionising and exciting gold atoms would be far in excess of the hottest flame available to us. XRF type machines however can do this by using high energy X rays.
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Looks like a rock .
Good one Dave. I had to look up leverite.
I found the definition. Leverite - A colloquial description by geologists of a rock not worthy of collection derived from the saying “Leave her right” there.
........does it warm your hands whilst you are holding it - if it does drop it and run away, far far away......Just don't do this indoors, in case of Arsenopyrite.
