Book 27, Question 88
How can you tell fool's gold from real gold?
Pyrite, called fool's gold, shines like brassy gold but is a different mineral.
Real gold is soft enough to dent with a nail, while pyrite is hard and brittle, and may form tiny cubes. Gold leaves a yellow streak, and pyrite leaves a greenish-black one. Gold is also much heavier for its size. Rock hounds use these tests to avoid being fooled.
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Quick answers
How can you tell fool's gold from real gold?
Compared to actual gold, these minerals will flake, powder, or crumble when poked with a metal point, whereas gold will gouge or indent like soft lead.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
More fun facts
- Iron pyrite, also known as Fool's Gold due to its resemblance to gold, often occurs in quartz veins.
- Pyrite and chalcopyrite will leave a dark green to black streak and the common micas will leave a white streak.
- Chalcopyrite may also appear gold-like, and weathered mica can mimic gold as well.
- Gold can be scratched by a sharp piece of copper, but copper will scratch very few other materials.
Sources: U.S. Geological Survey, Geology.com