Pyrite: a great indicator of gold that may itself contain gold - It makes valuable mineral specimens

[@RETRIBUTION_TIME]

It would be funny if Pyrite one day becomes the most valuable mineral due to it being used in the manufacturing of some future technology.

[@ChrisRalph]

Its possible!

[@danbrent4618]

Very informative video Chris! Thanks for taking me along on your educational series! You’re a good teacher Chris and a nice guy too! Dan Brent

[@ChrisRalph]

Thanks for the kind words.

[@SaltSeasDev]

Great video Chris! I'm a video game developer doing research for a few games that use realistic mineralogy and your videos have been a big help! Some of what I did before development was educational video direction, so I have small note. While, you have been way better about it in your last few videos, but, I notice you often look away from the camera when talking, if you put your "prompter" above the camera it will really help this issue!

[@ChrisRalph]

I understand.

[@justinmeng3902]

Thanks for sharing this. I'm a Newbie RockHound. I truly enjoy learning about the chemistry of minerals. I've grown a liking for pyrite. I'm in Southern Ontario Canada. Lots of nice things a few hours North of me. Bancroft,Thunder Bay, Lake Superior. All are goals of mine mind you. It's glad you share these informative videos. Becoming a passion of mine. This is maybe my first video I've watched. I'm also intrigued with Garnet. Mount St Hilaire is another one, in Quebec. Just feeling the Canadian spirit 😊. Anyways fam, your appreciated.

[@ChrisRalph]

Thanks for the kind words, glad you enjoy the videos.

[@Howlinjack]

What an incredibly informative video. Thank you for taking the time to put this together. I have leaned more from your videos than any other prospecting channel this far. Many thanks!!

[@ChrisRalph]

Glad it was helpful!

[@oldhollywoodbriar]

I was coming out of the hills the other day and some fellows asked me if I had found gold and I said, “No just pyrite.” They stopped and said, “If you’ve found pyrite you found gold.” I didn’t tell them where the vein was lol 😂

[@ChrisRalph]

Interesting.

[@EthanBonardel]

Lol had a very similar interaction a few weeks ago😅😂🤙

[@frankhage1734]

I purchased your book and really enjoy and learn from the videos you also produce. Our family owns claims which, historically, produced both placer gold and mixed ore from drift mining. There's a lot of silver, galena and pyrite. After sectioning and polishing ore samples, I can see that there's gold in that pyrite. Most people have learned pyrite is only for fools. ... I'm recently retired and purchased a nice, mid-range, metal detector, with software tuned for gold. Within the last week, I can finally access the property with my truck after the snow melted. I invite you to make some interesting episodes about the gold rush in Colorado and how to find gold in such a mine field. I'd be glad to show you around Gilpin county CO.

[@ChrisRalph]

Thanks, but I've no plans to make it to Colorado anytime soon.

[@cpomike13]

An often overlooked subject in gold geology. Thanx Chris

[@ChrisRalph]

Glad it was helpful.

[@karhukivi]

Very good talk! Nice to see you covered marcasite and pyrrhotite too. Arsenic is often associated with gold, so it is worth watching out for arsenopyrite.

[@ChrisRalph]

Well said!

[@MrGeorge514131]

Your vids are an education, many thanks, when out prospecting I always look for the pyrites especially when still in the host rock then take everything home for processing. Seriously love this channel and have learnt heaps from you, hope all is well with you and will see you again in the next episode

[@ChrisRalph]

I'm glad you found it helpful.

[@MrGeorge514131]

@@ChrisRalph thanks again, greetings from Australia

[@FabledFinds]

Ah, yes, pyrite…nature’s way of saying “Gotcha!”

[@ChrisRalph]

In many cases pyrite can be a good indicator.

[@dananorth895]

It's iron and thats almost always a good indicator. I've heard said if any gold is present in the hydrothermal fluids (etc) the pyrite will crystalize out early, the higher gold content the smaller and more numerous the crytals. Large crystals generaly are fewer in number and indicate less/no gold....but that's locally so.......

[@u2ooberboober]

Gets me every time!!!

[@FabledFinds]

@@dananorth895 Big crystals, big gold? I like it.

[@seanb3516]

I have been finding Pyrite/Pyrolite crystals on the beach in large quantities. I believe there is some gold in there because when I smash the stuff I get a lot of black powder... and large gold flakes. I have fired the material and hopefully today I will be able to cupel into Portland Cement. Rotsa Ruck Raggy

[@ChrisRalph]

Best of luck to you.

[@jackiechristman2272]

very helpful we've had this mineral for many years. this has been the most helpful you tube or links on google! thank you!!😊

[@ChrisRalph]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sunsetgold4528]

Hi Chris, thank you for the excellent videos. It's so nice to hear good information from a professional. I'm also a subscriber to the ICMJ print and digital versions. Keep it up, good sir!

[@ChrisRalph]

Awesome, thank you!

[@elijahossinga-uf7bz]

Really a blessing to under your feet listening to your teachings. Thanks.

[@ChrisRalph]

You are very welcome

[@anthonyrstrawbridge]

Worthwhile interesting episode Chris I really enjoyed it. Im going yo enjoy this. Kinda been dreaming about feeding beach sand into a sluice lately 😊

[@ChrisRalph]

Might work, depending on where the sand comes from....

[@anthonyrstrawbridge]

@@ChrisRalph It's really difficult to see through the sand bags at Home Depot 🙃

[@johnramirez5032]

Hi Chris. Thats for the video! Nature is amazing. There is a lifetime of learning when it comes to rocks,minerals and the processes of nature. Knowledge is almost more valuable than money. Or the gold that is found. Although the largest gold deposits found were because geologist did the footwork and usually backed with research paid by people with lots of money. Its is the geological processes that enriched nature with the minerals needed to have the diversity of life on this planet. What a wonderful world we live in.

[@ChrisRalph]

Its a world full of wonders indeed.

[@Mayagainstheworld]

I love listening to you while I work. Thank you for your videos they really help me. For hobby use, is there a breakdown or list of acids relative to each mineral used to isolate specific minerals from others? My local mining shop didn’t wanna tell me it seems as they were worried about people causing environmental damage from such knowledge. I get that but I just want to do small experiments with my kid to isolate different minerals. Any help would be appreciated thank you

[@ChrisRalph]

There is no such list because separating things is dependent on what you are separating the thing from. The matrix can be variable.

[@Mayagainstheworld]

@@ChrisRalph ok I get what you mean. I pick up from old pirate journals where folks rather hid items in some sort of concrete mix, which seemed to imply being able to recover later by dissolving? So was curious your thoughts on what might be used to do such things?

[@albertparai4305]

Hi Chris, I'm from Papua new guinea in the South Pacific Ocean. How can I find a good gold detector and which detector is best, is it the double figure scale or the single detector

[@ChrisRalph]

I did a video on selecting the right detector for your use. Take a look a that video and it will answer a lot of your questions. See: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaLanKN-brGNf68

[@davidrosinsky9912]

I really appreciate your vids. Great info. Great presentation

[@ChrisRalph]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

[@skyemaclachlan5182]

Earlier this year it was discovered that pyrite in the Appalachian Basin also has lithium in it. I've been wondering how this impacts the overall composition and value of pyrite. I really enjoy your channel.

[@ChrisRalph]

Where it has lithium, I am sure it is just tiny traces of lithium.

[@kylestrokelitus360]

We also now know REE are directly related to coal deposits and most economically extracted from the ash of burned coal, but has there been any inclination or studies showing gold content specifically related to Anthracite Coal deposits in the Grade A Mammoth Vein in Schuylkill Co PA.?

[@ChrisRalph]

There are tiny traces of all sorts of elements in coal ash.

[@calvinwhite9797]

Pyrite the one thing about pirates or fake gold if you take it in the dark it don't look like gold you take gold in the dark is still shines

[@ChrisRalph]

There is that.

[@patrickaussieMilartry]

Hey Chris spot on pyrite and quarts have led my self and friends to usually find some gold. But pyrite is beautiful to look at. Cheers again 👍🇦🇺🇺🇸

[@ChrisRalph]

Thanks 👍 Pyrite is good to find!

[@ladyflibblesworth7282]

I live where the industrial era began, they dumped their waste everywhere, this area was once considered the most diverse area of outstanding natural beauty. Alfred Wallace discovered evolution on the mountain I live on as so many different ecosystems existed in such a small area. Copperopolis - what a dirty word. They say we should be grateful for the jobs but all we got was pennies, several families sharing small damp cold houses, kids working in the mines, hilltop graveyards from the various furnaces, cholera.....they used to have police guarding the mine waste, but they just eventually turned it into orange bogs and call them nature reserves!

[@ChrisRalph]

certainly a very interesting story.

[@Kuttanwarrior]

Excellent!

[@ChrisRalph]

Glad you liked it!

[@lauriemcdonald8829]

I’m new at looking for gold in rocks as I’ve been doing placer prospecting so far! I’ve brought some rocks home, cleaned and sitting in pail of vinegar. I’ve been told to add salt and boil for … (no one said how long) so going boil dry (outside on burner). Gonna crush fine. Then pan. What’s the easiest way (chemical to add/cook) to liquidate gold then how (what?) to solidify free gold again. Yes I saw how the sulfides will drop gold for iron but how to do that without chemistry lab? I’d be doing this outside. Thanks in advance, Laurie

[@dananorth895]

There are a number of sites here on ytube that show how to crush, refine gold, copper etc.

[@ChrisRalph]

Commercially, dissolving gold involves the use of cyanide. The best way for the individual is to crush the rock to fine sand and pan out the gold particles. I have a video on how to do this.

[@maryglo1]

Mount Baker Mining has done some videos on processing Ask Jeff Williams ore.

[@Old52Guy]

I definitely need to revisit those places I found a lot of pyrite. Thanks!

[@ChrisRalph]

maybe so....

[@PoppinPortraits]

Good man yourself Chris thanks for the nice lesson again! My brother and I are known as the pyrite pirates, which I’m not proud of😂

[@ChrisRalph]

That is funny - the pyrite pirates!

[@taniakapronczai7652]

Hi, my husband did a contract work at a mine in Northern Canada. Since I love rocks and minerals, he brought lots of different rocks containing all kinds of pyrite. I would like to send some pictures to you. Some are the normal cube crystals, but some look like molten metal on chalcedony, quartz, and metamorphic rocks as well

[@ChrisRalph]

Thanks for sharing! Just based on your description, I'd have no idea what the molten metal was.

[@greedygringoprospecting6941]

i only got a spec of gold learning about my dry washer. i have only used it 3 times. was a nice day with the first class miners. have a good day.

[@ChrisRalph]

Hope you have more success with your dry washer in the future.

[@greedygringoprospecting6941]

@@ChrisRalph so do i always have to learn. have a good day.

[@TurboTyler]

There's so much pyrite and mica here in CO that it litters the creek beds and ground all over. Your shoes will be covered in it just hiking around.

[@ChrisRalph]

Too bad neither is very valuable.

[@wallingben]

Hey Chris, I found a pyrite vein in TX, I have pulled out some very peculiar morphologies from this spot. Care to take a look?

[@ChrisRalph]

I get quite a few people every day who want me to ID their rock and mineral photos. I do not offer a mineral ID service, mostly because it’s not as easy as you think. Usually, minerals cannot be identified from just a picture. Please watch my videos on how to Identify minerals for yourself. Part 1 can be found here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6HOiGhuj8qEosU and Part 2 can be found here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIC6oGdvjZ5jnaM and Part 3 can be found here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZLFZoGknLefjNk - Those videos should answer a lot of your questions.

[@JamesBond-py8xs]

First time I've come across your channel, and the this was the most in depth information of gold I've ever seen. My dad and I used to watch a lot of Jeff Williams when I started getting somewhat into prospecting, but my we only got to try it a couple times before I lost him. Now some years later, maybe it's time to take my son with me and try again. I've got a good deal of the necessary tools for it..some that I haven't even tried out yet, other than pans and detector. So, I was wondering, is pyrite a better indicator of gold than black sand? It's found in the black sand isn't it? Been so long since I've been into this.

[@ChrisRalph]

Pyrite is an indicator for hard rock gold in quartz veins. Black sand goes with placer gold in streams and rivers.

[@JamesBond-py8xs]

@ChrisRalph Thank you Chris!

[@isaaclawson3126]

I'm still learning and have learned a lot in the past couple years. Watched this because my wife found what looked like a Moss agate with a small patch of what looked like gold. Kind of looked like foil. It's in the tumbler right now. Hoping the patch survives because it looked cool. My question is, if it is pyrite, can it be shined and how to do that if it oxidizes? Great video BTW.. thanks.

[@ChrisRalph]

Pyrite does not form as foils. Perhaps it is mica (which forms thin sheets)?

[@isaaclawson3126]

@Chris Ralph, Professional Prospector well I guess we'll find out lol. Mica doesn't do well in a tumbler

[@JohnnyYeTaecanUktena]

I find Pyrite very valuable as it is a nice common source of sulfur 53% while Galena is only 13%. Obviously any slag left over after the two pot distillation you can use however you like. Now i like extracting the sulfur because it is apart of a recipe for non smokeless gunpower and i do have a muzzleloader, the recipe ingredients are as follows Charcoal Sulfur Saltpeter Now the funny thing about saltpeter is you can extract it from your own urine but boy it stinks, it's like making compost really but you are not gardening and you don't want sunlight to hit the beds. The process for Saltpeter is about 7 months in the south and about a year up north as the more heat in the climate the better. Like other than mixing the powders and such the only real dangerous part is the sulfur extraction as you don't wanna breath in H25 for those that don't know Hydrogen Sulfide. It's highly toxic, corrosive, and flammable. You could also use Sodium Thiosulfate in the 2 pot distillation as it is 40% sulfur and since it is already pretty much crushed up you don't have much wok to do. Funny thing is you do heat up Sulfur with a few other things to make Sodium Thiosulfate in the first place, and Sodium Thiosulphate is used to treat cyanide poisoning allegedly -i don't remember if that part is true or not- So anyways yeah Pyrite will always be valuable to me at least and anyone who owns a muzzle loader as again it is just a nice source of sulfur that is naturally occurring. Though as you are explaining after the sulfur is extracted if you had a good bit of crushed up Pyrite might as well extract the gold if that was remaining and not contaminate the sulfur in the other pot

[@ChrisRalph]

Or you could just buy and store a sufficient amount of sulfur and Potassium Nitrate. It would be 100 times easier than pyrite distillation or urine processing.

[@JohnnyYeTaecanUktena]

@@ChrisRalph That is true, but it is just a hobby i occasionally do when i truly have nothing better to do

[@PoorMiners321]

Thank you very much..

[@ChrisRalph]

You are welcome, glad you liked it.

[@BobSmith-vs5jp]

Thanks for video/ demo! My motorcycle was just stolen (second time in 2yrs). Can you do a diamond blade test & a hammer smash/fracture test? Thanks

[@ChrisRalph]

not sure what you mean by a diamond blade test. Can you explain?

[@BobSmith-vs5jp]

@@ChrisRalph I was commenting on a different video. The video ended,while typing & you received the comment. Both videos were downloaded- a testament to my interest in both! Thanks for great content!

[@robertkaplan1146]

Thanks Chris very informative. I once had over 30 m3 of granite quarry rock delivered to one of my work sites. We saw lots of metallic colors and when we consulted the department of mines we were told it was pyrite not gold at a glance but we're also keen to know where it came from. Now I wonder what if ????? LoL I think I'll just get myself a minelab gold monster and go to the gold fields. Cheers 👍

[@ChrisRalph]

As I say in the video, pyrite is common and occurs in lots of types of rocks. Gold is rare.

[@bernardmcnamara]

Hi from Australia. 🇦🇺 I'm finding your segments very educational on a basic beginners level. As that what I am. I'm involved in a Astronomy Club inwitch has geology group with in the club itself inwitch are out in the field once a month searching for fossils, minerals & crystals. I would also like to ask permission to run one of post leatchers while discussing Pyrite's. Would this be OK. ?

[@ChrisRalph]

sorry - I have no idea what "post leatchers" are.

[@marybeth17]

Hi, this is my 1st time seeing your channel. How does it grow so perfectly square? Thanks

[@ChrisRalph]

Its how the crystal grows - the atoms align next to each other that way.

[@marybeth17]

@@ChrisRalphThanks so much for letting me know. As they say you learn something new every day. 😊Have a great day.

[@zannemairiwoods528]

Great info and much appreciated however , Where does the golden Pyrite come from as I purchased a 4" piece that actually had same color gold color that were actually quartz crystal forms , only as stated the same dark gold color . Wondering if this was aan made coloring or if it is real ! I also have the greyish cubed formations as well as just small unnoticeable formations . Any info on fake made Pyrite ? Thank you for your input and expertise .!

[@ChrisRalph]

From your description, I just can't say. Never heard of man made pyrite specimens.

[@Zannemairi]

I have searched for expert knowledge of someone in the field and found your site ! The piece I acquired looks like quartz crystal formation and not square ones that are normally found ., plus it is a brassy color and uneven smoother bottom. . Was thinking that someone with abilities to somehow color the extremity with metal ??? .Also where does gold pyrite come from ? Should I take pictures of it and send it to you ?!

[@mountainmover777]

I used to work on Admirality island in Alaska and this stuff was everywhere. It would turn the water reddish orange. I used to have some great examples, but lost all my treasures years ago to a storage unit I couldn't pay the fees on..😒

[@ChrisRalph]

That is unfortunate that you lost them.

[@mountainmover777]

@@ChrisRalph Yes it was, but I did learn a great lesson about possessions, I'm not so connected to my "things" anymore. Can't take them with me anyway.. God bless you sir!

[@TexasBurningFlower]

Thank you for this video. Very educational. I have a question about a type of rockI have found. Is there a way I can send a few photos. I really would like to understand more about it.

[@ChrisRalph]

Sorry - I get quite a few people every day who want me to ID their rock and mineral photos. I do not offer a mineral ID service, mostly because it’s not as easy as you think. Usually, minerals cannot be identified from just a picture. Please watch my videos on how to Identify minerals for yourself. Part 1 can be found here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6HOiGhuj8qEosU and Part 2 can be found here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIC6oGdvjZ5jnaM and Part 3 can be found here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZLFZoGknLefjNk

[@TexasBurningFlower]

Thank you for responding, I can only imagine the pouring in of peoples discoveries and questions if that door was opened. Thank you for the dedication you apply to your videos, you certainly are an educator, bringing a vast area of complex subjects, all together, to make sense to common average person.

[@TexasBurningFlower]

I understand, I can only imagine opening that door. Thank you for your time and dedication that you put into educating the common average person, with an enriched college course education in a 30 min utube video….

[@TexasBurningFlower]

Have you ever researched the Llano uplift?

[@ChrisRalph]

There is gold in the Llano river, its very small particles, but its there. Do some research on Google to find out more.

[@jonnymoka]

I have been searching an exposed quartz vein with beautiful mineralization along with pyrite.

[@ChrisRalph]

Best of luck to you.

[@markmayer2029]

Thanks for another great video. I was really hoping you would show the fine Au on pyrite with either a microscope, or SEM. Would have really liked to see an example.

[@ChrisRalph]

I don't have a picture like that to show. Maybe you could find something using google.

[@markmayer2029]

@@ChrisRalph I did find 1 picture of a tiny grain on a 1mm cube. University of Otago picture, FYI. It was hard to find a picture. I found a nugget growing out of a cube once, but lost it into the carpet.

[@paulbegley1464]

Hay Chris I was wondering when you did the side by side comparison of the 3 metal detectors. You had the Minelab and the and I'm thinking the Garret but I couldn't understand the 3rd one. Can you repeat all for me. I'm thinking the Minelab was the 9,000 or the 8,000. And I can't remember what the Garret was called. I guess I'm just getting old and decrepit.

[@ChrisRalph]

2 of the three were Minelab, the other was the Garrett Axiom.

[@paulbegley1464]

@@ChrisRalph Thanks Chris. I'm taking it was the top two Minelabs.

[@Smithsgold]

Ok now I want to go find some Pyrite !!!!!

[@ChrisRalph]

Good video on that hydro pit exploration.

[@Smithsgold]

@@ChrisRalph Thanks !!!!

[@fosildude]

Howdy, My name is Dean I have a specimen of what I think is gold/pyrite in quartz. I'm probably wrong I usually am. My question is may I send you a picture of it some how so you can maybe see and tell what it might be? Thank you so much, and thank you for your videos very much so.

[@ChrisRalph]

Sorry - I get quite a few people every day who want me to ID their rock and mineral photos. I do not offer a mineral ID service, mostly because it’s not as easy as you think. Usually, minerals cannot be identified from just a picture. Please watch my videos on how to Identify minerals for yourself. Part 1 can be found here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6HOiGhuj8qEosU and Part 2 can be found here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIC6oGdvjZ5jnaM and Part 3 can be found here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZLFZoGknLefjNk

[@davidpapazoni3398]

Pyrite , Devils Dice, are fun crystals, as is fossils. Basically a metal detector will not pickup pyrite, this is a good way to test if it's metal or crystal if I'm not mistaken pyrite is metamorphic eventually turning in to iron. Some of my gold nuggets have both pyrite and iron. Interesting iron expands 10 fold when it enters another metamorphic stage turning to rust, which is why many of my gold nuggets have holes and turned orange due to iron oxide. Iron oxide is a super fine dust which penetrates and is trapped inside of gold nuggets. Chris I would love to see your fossils and the one's that consist of pyrite. Your anology of my conception is important to me. Thank You! I'm Curious if your metal detector picks up on your seashell of pyrite? I supose if the metal detector sounds off on the seashell the seashell is exreemly heavy.

[@ChrisRalph]

The pyrite doesn't always expand. I have some cubes that are exactly as they were formed - just the iron sulfide of pyrite is converted to iron oxide. metal detectors will not pick up pyrite - its not conductive enough. Metal detectors pick up metal because metals conduct electricity.

[@davidpapazoni3398]

Thanks Chris, Yes , Like a electric guitar, the pickups on the electric guitar are electrically charged and sense a disturbance in the vicinity of each pole on the pickups, the metal strings vibrate at different pitches and wave lengths producing different tones. Metal detectors have a coil instead of metal poles which electric guitars have. Yet the guitar poles have coils of wire windings around them, as you may already be aware of. Crystals are amazing and produce different colors just like glass when small amounts of different metals are added to the molten glass to produce different colors of glass. Thanks for indicating that just the iron sulfide of pyrite is converted to iron oxide. I had the assumption the entire crystal turned metamorphically into metal iron, then the metal iron turned to rust, at this point expanded 10 times it's original iron metal size and then metamorphically produced a bi product of rusty orange colored iron oxide dust. I was thinking iron sulfide is rust. I hope one day you will get to see my gold fossils of various different creatures and or parts of various different creatures. They were formed into gold while clinging to hydrothermal vents, or they were already metamorphic stone fossils at the vents when the gold accumulated inside them as underwater volcanoes elevated the sea floor creating coral reefs. Most of my gold fossils are of seashells exoskeletal and crabs also exoskeletal The other's im' not sure what creatures or coral plant, worms they are. I think the natural exoskeletal round shape's of seashells helped the gold to accumulate something like a man made crucible works. Gravity seemed to allow the gold to settle at the bottom half parts of the natural bowl shaped exoskeletons crucible's.

[@mainer8713]

I have a question about pyrite, a few years ago i was digging up a spring at the head end of my farm pond with a spade and pick ax and had a lot of pyrite flakes coming up and also a film of almost oil film seeping up.

[@mainer8713]

Does the pyrite flakes and the floating oil/rainbow color film coming up indicate anything special. Oh and also wanted to say my soil is heavy clay, hard packed.

[@ChrisRalph]

Pyrite does not come in flakes. My guess is that it was likely mica, which almost always comes in flakes.

[@mainer8713]

@@ChrisRalph mica, is that gold color and shatters easily

[@ChrisRalph]

Mica is frequently gold colored.

[@edwinlipton]

Thee ohm resistance test leads me too think of a possible use as a LOAD resistor use. Has that ever been tried in a load circuit?

[@ChrisRalph]

I'm not sure.

[@Mayagainstheworld]

I’d love to have your book can I use your lessons in an outdoor class I’m starting with 12-16 age group?

[@ChrisRalph]

You can tell them what you've learned, but you can't make copies of stuff from the book.

[@mikecollier6931]

Will pyrite still look like gold if you are digging in water?

[@ChrisRalph]

Pyrite does not look that much like gold in water or not. If pyrite is wet for a length of time, it rusts.

[@mikecollier6931]

So if I'm digging in a creek and it looks like gold in the pan it most likely is gold?

[@ChrisRalph]

"looks like gold" means a lot of different things to different people. Get someone experienced to look at it for you.

[@williamweiss1096]

used to find it in Illinois, ( and we called it fools gold) the only fools we're those like me that believed those older then us who said it was not worth anything. only to learn years later that YES YOU CAN RECOVER GOLD from iron pyrite. those whot told us to throw it away, collected and melted it

[@ChrisRalph]

Some pyrite has gold in it. Some does not.

[@duanebartlett4885]

Can you assay pyrite sulfides for gold percentages that are encased in the pyrite?

[@ChrisRalph]

yes, a fire assay of an ore can determine the gold amount in the pyrite.

[@duanebartlett4885]

@@ChrisRalph Does roasting pyrite sulfides free encased gold so it can be viewed?

[@ChrisRalph]

Through roasting can oxidize the pyrite, but further crushing will be needed to liberate the gold. Remember that panning may not capture the very fine and microscopic gold particles.

[@samuelpat8592]

There's a lot pyrites here in my my place,its a vain down ward its look like a gold.is there a possible that there's a gold down there?

[@ChrisRalph]

It is possible there is gold but no guarantees, it is also possible there is no gold.

[@መልእክቶችንይከታተሉ]

Good Information

[@ChrisRalph]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

[@jakefranklin269]

I have been finding large solid chunks of pyrite in our rejects from our coal mine. some is very loose bonded crystals and crumbles but i have been finding pieces that are almost as solid as steel very dense and large pieces from a grey white colour to a golden yellow and everything in between. Whats going on here?

[@ChrisRalph]

The sulfur in the organic materials which formed the coal have combined with iron from the ground water to form pyrite.

[@jakefranklin269]

@@ChrisRalph thanks Ralph! That would explain the density i guess. Its nothing like the stuff ive seen in hard rock copper/silver ore . Could there be metals other than iron? Some of it almost silver. Im thinking possibly arseno pyrite?

[@ChrisRalph]

Tiny traces. No other metals worth extracting.

[@billyhendrix5544]

Dude your the gems Ive been prospecting for ❤ these videos are absolutely excellent and informative.

[@ChrisRalph]

Thanks, glad it was helpful.

[@a3skywarrior929]

Great episode! 👍 ✨️🍻

[@ChrisRalph]

Thanks!

[@a3skywarrior929]

@Chris Ralph, Professional Prospector only took a freshman geology many many moons 🌙 ago...great explanation of sulfates 🍻

[@DelightMathonsi-ed6wd]

Hey I have a pyrite were can I sell it

[@ChrisRalph]

No, you need to find your own market for your specimens.

[@CritterCamSoCal]

Thanks I learned a lot about Pyrites cool.!

[@ChrisRalph]

Glad to hear it!

[@CrestoneColorado-yj4we]

Great video.

[@ChrisRalph]

Thanks, Glad you enjoyed it.

[@donyawuy9549]

sir how to extract gold from pyrite stone

[@ChrisRalph]

Smelting or oxidation of the pyrite.

[@stigcarboncreative]

Dead good thanks mate!

[@ChrisRalph]

glad it was helpful.

[@kiyanliyan2931]

hello teacher, you are an important program for us, please provide a Farsi translation We are watching your program from Iran

[@ChrisRalph]

I do not speak Farsi. Try automated translation.

[@hunnybunnysheavymetalmusic6542]

HEY!!! I'M ALL FOR MINING PYRITE!!! GREAT SOURCE OF IRON AND SULFUR!!! [we got ZERO gold where I live].

[@ChrisRalph]

OK.

[@danielflinn3571]

Thanks from Australia have your book

[@ChrisRalph]

Thanks! The book should be helpful.

[@benrhynsburger3275]

Bought the book BEFORE I saw this video. 😀

[@ChrisRalph]

Glad you liked the video.

[@7kings441]

I need your assistance in Zambia May you able to come

[@ChrisRalph]

I appreciate your interest, but I do not offer any services for personal training, consulting or advisement. I get many such requests and simply do not have time to help all who ask. I have many business and family commitments and simply don't have the time available. I do wish you the best of luck, but I am sorry that I cannot offer any help on that level.

[@hunnybunnysheavymetalmusic6542]

Chalcopyrite ALSO develops more of a rainbow hue to it when it begins oxidizing. This makes it more easy to determine it from pyrite. One can even artificially oxidize chalcopyrite to cause it to form a beautiful glistening metallic iridescent appearance.

[@ChrisRalph]

Ok.

[@RaymondMooney-xd2ug]

Sounds like melting finding

[@ChrisRalph]

Not sure what "melting finding" is.

[@edwardevans7219]

I LOVE FOOLS GOLD, THE LARGER AND MORE SQUARE THE BETTER. CLEAN THEM THEN COAT THEM, I USED CLEAR FINGER NAIL POLISH, AND THEY LOOK BEAUTIFUL FOREVER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ChrisRalph]

Interesting!

[@rearspeaker6364]

that is what all these "prospectors" on youtube are finding!!

[@ChrisRalph]

No, some do find some nice gold - the real stuff.

[@rearspeaker6364]

@@ChrisRalph agreed, just some.

[@DelightMathonsi-ed6wd]

And I have nugget of silver too

[@ChrisRalph]

you need to find your own market for your specimens.

[@eduardbuletsa9485]

Thanks & Subscription 💎💎💎

[@ChrisRalph]

Welcome!

[@afewerkidesta1959]

Hello sir!! I have pyrite for specimens and industries , if you need to collect pls contac for me. Or if you now collectors

[@ChrisRalph]

I am not a specimen buyer.

[@QamarAbbas-r6g]

Hello sir I have lot of pyrit

[@ChrisRalph]

Some pyrite had gold, some does not. Test to see what you have.

[@መልእክቶችንይከታተሉ]

wow!!

[@ChrisRalph]

Glad it was helpful.

[@zusclhz]

Thank You SO MUCH for Teaching!! 🙏🚂🎼🌹🎶🎵 ~C< 3)>>-Z->}

[@ChrisRalph]

Glad it was helpful!

[@abdellutaiffnomiry3195]

Good woo

[@ChrisRalph]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@trptrungblogs]

🎉❤🎉❤

[@ChrisRalph]

Glad it was helpful!

[@อาคมรัตนสมบัติ]

Like

[@ChrisRalph]

Thank you.

[@askedhachker5389]

Pyrite mining goild 2023 2080 👍 1kg 90.13 gold 1kg 30.21😢

[@ChrisRalph]

You say it

[@kylestrokelitus360]

A question i have is that in reference to a study in '03. This study focused on The Lodestar prospect in eastern Newfoundland, Canada. It went on to conclude that "Gold is “homogeneously” (i.e., no nugget effect) contained within the structure of arsenopyrite. Other sulfide phases, such as pyrite and chalcopyrite, contain very low levels of Au. Gold contents in arsenopyrite from individual samples, and even within individual crystals, do vary, presumably related to arsenic concentrations. As gold was not observable by any of the other micro-analytical techniques, it must be chemically bound in the arsenopyrite structure, thereby classifying it as “invisible” gold." With that stated, is that a to also mean gold content in a sample is directly related to the amount of arsenopyrite in a sample ---> no matter the location, or is this specifically at this deposit only? pubs.geoscienceworld.org/canmin/article-abstract/41/2/353/13543/A-LAM-ICP-MS-STUDY-OF-THE-DISTRIBUTION-OF-GOLD-IN

[@ChrisRalph]

Sorry, I've no time to study and review this reference paper for you.

[@kylestrokelitus360]

Understandable Sir. That's why I summarized the conclusion of the study for ease of reading. The study concluded that Au was directly related to the concentration of arsenopyrite and that it was homogeneous in every sample and every crystal and that the concentrations did vary but we're in direct relation to the concentration levels of arsenopyrite. My question is does a study that concludes something such as this, conclude the results for arsenopyrite no matter the location? Since it found a direct relationship to the higher level of arsenopyrite meant the concentration in the analysis of gold also was higher... So is that geologically certain across the globe? Just wondering from your experience Chris. It would mean a lot to get a better understanding of this specific relationship if you have any experience or understanding of this, that would help out my prospecting business alot. Thanks Chris.

[@richardrobertson1331]

@@kylestrokelitus360 that's an interesting question because so much is involved with minerals being concentrated. Minerals dissolve and precipitate out again, depending on so many factors such as pH changes, temperature changes, pressure changes, etc., that drawing a single conclusion for a variety of environmental options is risky. I'm afraid many fortunes have been made and lost drawing conclusions when so many different options are in play. Good luck with your venture.

[@Stand.Your.Ground.]

This video has helped me identify what I have! A have a specimen I found in Oregon that has copper staining sandwiched between two quarts veins but has geometric chalcopyrite /pyrite shapes I wonder if there is gold in it. (Known area for gold) Beautiful specimen imo

[@ChrisRalph]

Its possible there is gold in it.

[@EthanBonardel]

Very informative, Thanks Professor! I need to start taking notes for knowledge retention as this is very important to understand these processes when hunting🫡

[@ChrisRalph]

You can always watch a second or even third time on the videos to make sure you have everything.

[@__--JY-Moe--__]

[@ChrisRalph]

Thanks.