Gold and Fool's Gold
Many people for ages have confused Gold and Fool's Gold. Pyrites and Chalcopyrite are the most confused elements for Gold and hence termed as fool's Gold. Therefore, it is vital to understand the differentiating features. Gold, on the one hand, is a naturally occurring soft metal with a beautiful lustrous sheen. It is highly malleable, ductile and a good conductor of heat and electricity (Allen et al., 2015). On the other hand, Pyrite is a mineral composed of Sulfur and Iron, and it possesses a yellowish metallic luster similar to Gold. Mostly, it is found in metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. Conversely, Chalcopyrite is a mineral composed of Copper, Iron, and Sulfur. It found in several combinations of ores, in large quantities to irregular veins.
Fool's Gold Appearance
Fool's Gold is composed of small crystals and has sharp edges. A closer examination of fool's Gold shows a structure consisting of small and sharp cubes. Pyrite has a pale brass yellowish appearance with a metallic luster while Chalcopyrite has a yellowish brass color. Pyrite produces a Sulfur odor, while gold does not give off such scent if you smell a hint of Sulfur, then high chances are it is a fool’s gold. Furthermore, when fool’s Gold is exposed to light it glistens, when there is no light, it will not have any shine. However, real Gold will have a luster even when it is not in the presence of direct light, and it gives a much softer shine (Allen et al., 2015). If you rub samples of on white porcelain, real gold will leave a yellow mark while fool’s gold will leave a black or dark green mark.
Pegmatite Rocks
Pegmatite are rocks formed during the final periods of magma crystallization. They are composed of Muscovite, Feldspar, and Quartz. Quartz is a chemical compound comprising oxygen and silica with a clear glassy luster; it occurs in various colors varying in transparency. On a photograph, it should appear as bright with a vitreous luster. Feldspar, on the other hand, is a mineral formed by crystallization of magma. They are lightly colored depending on the chemical mixture. On a photograph, feldspar should appear bright but not as much as quartz. Finally, Muscovite is a mineral composed of hydrated phyllosilicate (Simmons and Webber, 2008). It has a layered and platy structure; this is a distinct property to identify it on a photograph.
References
Allen, M. R., McNerny, E., Organ, J. M., " Wallace, J. M. (2015). True gold or pyrite: a review of reference point indentation for assessing bone mechanical properties in vivo. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 30(9), 1539-1550.
Simmons, W. B. S., " Webber, K. L. (2008). Pegmatite genesis: state of the art. European Journal of Mineralogy, 20(4), 421–438. https://doi.org/10.1127/0935-1221/2008/0020-1833
