Aloha, fun & authoritative answers -- no cost, no registration, no passwords, no popups
(as an eBay Partner & Amazon Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases)

Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989

-----

Fisherman thinks he found gold or silver off the coast of Jamaica

My father said that when diving for fish he discovered some shiny metal which at first he thought was gold buried by pirates, in the order they were set in and the type of coral that grew over them, which lead him to think it had to be there for at least 100-200 years. When he brought it back to the main they tested it and said it is copper, but as he placed acid on it and the acid turned green but the metal didn't react in any way. He is convinced that is something special or valuable because of the place he found it and the time period he estimated them to be there and still have a shine.

Oshane Haughton
student college - East Orange, New Jersey
May 19, 2011

May 2011

Hi, Oshane. Copper doesn't necessarily significantly dissolve in acids. Since he has already learned that it is not gold or silver, it would be best to leave it. The real gold would be a living coral reef.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

the main reason he thinks that's its gold is because he found it in the coral reef; the reef was alive and he said that the reef had to take about 100-200 years to grow and if it was copper it would had turned black from the coral reef growing on it.

Oshane Haughton
- New Jersey
May 26, 2011

May 2011

Hi, Oshane.

If he strongly believes that it is gold, despite it not testing as such, he should take it to another jeweler, laboratory, or metallurgist for re-testing. Sorry, but there is no point in insisting that it is a different material than it tests as.

But you can perhaps prove to yourself that it is not copper, or it is not gold by weighing it (www.supermalta.com/en-us/pg_19.html). Pure gold is more than twice as heavy as copper, so a simple Archimedes experiment should point one way or the other. We certainly hope it is gold, but we doubt it. Best of luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories: