CMKM Diamonds Inc (fka CMKX)

[DAVE_007]

e-mail reply from UT professsor of Geology concerning picture..



Dave,


It's rather difficult to distinguish the two in a photo, unless cubic crystals or conchoidal fracture (curved, cusped fracture, like glass fractures) were visible. Either of these characteristics would indicate pyrite. This photo, in particular, is not very clear.


Try cutting it with a knife or sticking it with a pin. These are rather nondestructive tests to see if it behaves as a soft metal or if it's brittle. (In the movies, a cowboy would try biting the "gold" to see if it would dent, i.e. to see if it's a soft metal. I don't recommend biting it!) If it's soft, it may be gold. If it's brittle, it's likely to be pyrite.


Hope this helps.

Johnathan