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5 Responses to “How does one tell the difference between pyrite and gold? Will either hold to a magnet?”

1. Meg Says:
   August 22nd, 2010 at 7:09 pm

   If the crystals are big enough, you should be able to see the structure of the pyrite. It grows in very distinct cubic forms, like dice.
   References :
   Geology major.

2. saratogarox Says:
   August 22nd, 2010 at 7:15 pm

   Specific gravity and streak – gold will be much heavier and pyrite will have a streak, where gold will not.
   References :

3. oklatonola Says:
   August 22nd, 2010 at 8:04 pm

   http://geology.com/minerals/pyrite.shtml

   "…Diamagnetic metals have a very weak and negative susceptibility to magnetic fields. Diamagnetic materials are slightly repelled by a magnetic field and the material does not retain the magnetic properties when the external field is removed. Diamagnetic materials are solids with all paired electron resulting in no permanent net magnetic moment per atom. Diamagnetic properties arise from the realignment of the electron orbits under the influence of an external magnetic field. Most elements in the periodic table, including copper, silver, and gold, are diamagnetic. …"

   http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/MagParticle/Physics/MagneticMatls.htm

   "…From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
   Jump to: navigation, search
   This article is about the metal. For the color, see Gold (color). For other uses, see Gold (disambiguation).
   79 platinum ← gold → mercury
   Ag
   ↑
   Au
   ↓
   Rg
   Periodic Table – Extended Periodic Table

   General
   Name, Symbol, Number gold, Au, 79
   Element category transition metals
   Group, Period, Block 11, 6, d
   Appearance metallic yellow

   Standard atomic weight 196.966569(4)  g·mol−1
   Electron configuration [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s1
   Electrons per shell 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 1
   Physical properties
   Phase solid
   Density (near r.t.) 19.3  g·cm−3
   Liquid density at m.p. 17.31  g·cm−3
   Melting point 1337.33 K
   (1064.18 °C, 1947.52 °F)
   Boiling point 3129 K
   (2856 °C, 5173 °F)
   Heat of fusion 12.55  kJ·mol−1
   Heat of vaporization 324  kJ·mol−1
   Specific heat capacity (25 °C) 25.418  J·mol−1·K−1
   Vapor pressure P(Pa) 1 10 100 1 k 10 k 100 k
   at T(K) 1646 1814 2021 2281 2620 3078

   Atomic properties
   Crystal structure cubic face centered
   Oxidation states −1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
   (amphoteric oxide)
   Electronegativity 2.54 (Pauling scale)
   Ionization energies 1st: 890.1 kJ/mol
   2nd: 1980 kJ/mol
   Atomic radius 135  pm
   Atomic radius (calc.) 174  pm
   Covalent radius 144  pm
   Van der Waals radius 166 pm
   Miscellaneous
   Magnetic ordering diamagnetic
   Electrical resistivity (20 °C) 22.14 n Ω·m
   Thermal conductivity (300 K) 318  W·m−1·K−1
   Thermal expansion (25 °C) 14.2  µm·m−1·K−1
   Speed of sound (thin rod) (r.t.) (hard-drawn)
   2030  m·s−1
   Young’s modulus 78  GPa
   Tensile strain 0.00157  
   Shear modulus 27  GPa
   Bulk modulus 180  GPa
   Poisson ratio 0.44
   Mohs hardness 2.5
   Vickers hardness 216  MPa
   Brinell hardness ? 2450  MPa
   CAS registry number 7440-57-5…"

   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold

   Note the difference Moh’s hardness, 6.5 – 7 for pyrite, 2.5 for gold. Pyrite is an isometric crystal. Probably the easiest way to visually tell the difference between pyrite and gold is that pyrite will be cubic or rectangular crystals and gold nuggets will be rounded.
   References :
   B.S. and M.S. in geology

4. Godless Heathen Says:
   August 22nd, 2010 at 8:30 pm

   Gold will be far more flexible and prone to scratching than fool’s gold. Pyrite won’t hold to a magnet despite being partially iron but it typically forms in quasi-geometric shapes while gold nuggets are typically organic and bulbous in shape. Pyrite is also a little grayer than gold is. Google some pictures of gold and pyrite and compare your samples to them if this doesn’t help much.
   References :

5. Rouse Says:
   August 22nd, 2010 at 9:09 pm

   Pyrite is much lighter and you should be able to pan it out. Pyrite also dissolves in many strong acids. Gold only dissolves in aqua regia which is a combination of nitric acid and hydrochoric acid.

   Generally, however, iron pyrite is very easy to distinguish from gold once you see the two together, especially with a low power magnifying glass. Even with the naked eye, you can generally see pyrite’s cubic crystals. Where the crystals are fine, Pyrite has a glittery, dusty appearance, whereas gold is smooth and has a lower luster. Pyrite is brittle and crumbles, whereas gold is maleable. When panning, placer gold is most often observed as individual flakes or in nodular nuggets. Pyrite is very seldom seen by itself because it weathers rapidly in water.
   References :

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