Gold nuggets on the beach??

[JDknight34]

Thanks BDAHunter!

Hi Kak. The only thing that is bothering me is the color of the nuggets just do not look like native gold. However, impurities in the gold can lead to a wide range of color, so that is not sufficient to rule out that it is or is not gold. For instance, gold I find from a NM location is less yellow and brassier looking than gold I typically find in Southern California. Location can tell alot as well. If you found this on the Gulf Coast, I would say not likely. However, if you found this in Alaska, northwestern coastal states or canadian coastal areas, or even Georgia, in areas with known gold localities (dont know about localitys outside the US/Canada) then I would say the possibilities are better. Placer gold does not travel too far from the source without being ground down pretty small (flour gold), so if you found that on a beach and it turns out to be gold, I would be looking for where creeks and rivers dump into the ocean or in ravines in nearby cliffs.

So, you know that the hardness and streak are within range for gold. Malleability (testing with a hammer) would not change or add any distinguishing information beyond what you have already learned.

Well, I hope your tester tells you it is gold! Oh, and whenever someone suggests mixing acids etc... think of Will Smith and his Robot - Danger! Danger! unless you really understand the chemistry.

Darren

Below FYI, is a cut and paste on other physical properties of gold.

 

[Goldringer]

Hate to contradict some of you but gold jewelry will corrode on the beach, in salt water or other alien environments. Jewelry is seldom pure gold but an alloy in either 10K, 12K 14K, 18k, 22K and once in awhile 24K. Alloyed gold will be affected by electrolysis is placed in salt water. Many rings i have found that have been in the sea for years have had much of the alloying metals electrolyzed away and while marked 14K will actually test in the range of 22K. some become brittle and break when dropped, especially 10K. I have found 14K rings that were lying next to a piece of iron or basalt rock and they were green from corrosion do to electrolysis. the copper alloy in them gives the problem.
Pure gold of course will look perfect no matter the exposure time.

The attached photo is one of the rare finds in 24K gold and Platinum.

Perhaps those nuggets? are melted jewelry, either lost in a beach fire accidentally or on purpose?

 

[bdahunter]

That is a thing of beauty, Mate. Usually the best I find is 22k and what a difference from the 10k (and even worse British 9k) JUNK that gets passed off as gold. I think the asians have it right, 22k is gold with a little bit of other metals to toughen it up for daily wear - anything else is a pale imitation.

Cheers,

BDA

PS My wife and I will be passing through Hawaii on our round the world trip, either late this year or early next year. Hopefully we can get together and share a hunt and a meal.

 

[Goldringer]

do let me know when you are coming. be happy to show the two of you our island.

 

[nugget]

Hope it is gold mate, I've recovered a lot of gold jewelery, in the surf, diving etc, also a lot of nuggets. I've found that the stuff I've found 9ct gold and up, here in OZ will only tarnish in the salt not corrode, but maybe, just maybe your onto a winner! Good luck. regards Nugget.

 

[kak]

Thanks for the input all,
My tester should arrive soon and then I will know for sure.

I got out to that beach Sunday for 9 hours and found about $20 in change and 4 rings (1 silver, 1 titanium coated and two junkers) but no more nuggets. If they are gold I really do need to find where they are coming from. It's fun anyway!

BDA, you mentioned the low karat gold you found. I found a 5k ring here believe it or not. It was dark but very clean considering how long it might have been in the water. Can it get any lower? And does it count as a gold ring??

kak

 

[bdahunter]

5k gold is a real shocker, kak. I've never heard of such a low karat rating, to my knowledge 9k is the lowest legal karat in the world and only in England so that's an incredibly low percentage of gold.
Something that I always found confusing is 'How can something that isn't at least 51% gold be considered gold?' Clearly a 10k gold ring is only 41% gold and 59% something else so the majority of the met that makes up the ring is not even gold. Sounds like a good marketing plan to me.
I'm fortunate that the beaches around here rarely get 10k gold - 14k is typical and depending upon the beach I see 18k quite regularly. 18k is pretty much a European standard for gold jewellery (England being the exception). We all hunt hard for our loot, so I think it is only reasonable to expect people to wear better quality items into the water in order to make it worth our while. (tongue firmly in cheek)

Cheers,

BDA

 

[kered]

Most of the gold i get is 18k too(Spain) the odd 14 or 9 but 95% 18k and up although not many with real ice like some of the honkers i see on here, can't have it all ways i suppose

 

[scubadetector]

This park is very old and I have pulled coins from the 1800's out of it. This ring had absolutely NO gold in it! I am sure it was plated at one time or another and passed off as a true 14K ring. No other markings inside like GF HGE , GP, just the 14K.

So untill marked pieces are tested there is absolutly no way to know. A jeweler will test them free of charge. Just take one in and most can tell right away. Good luck. (but my bet is on brass or copper)