Gold Sulfides 101 (Module 3) Identifying Tools, Textures and Tests #goldsulfides #goldprospecting

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Unlock the secrets of gold exploration in our latest YouTube Short, "Unveiling Gold Clues: Sulfides in the Field!" 🌟 Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of sulfide minerals like pyrite, chalcopyrite, and arsenopyrite, which often accompany gold deposits. Discover essential tools—like magnets and streak plates—that can help you identify these valuable minerals right in the field.

Whether you’re a seasoned prospector or just getting started, understanding textures and reactions is crucial for successful sampling. Don't miss out on this quick guide to spotting gold clues in your next adventure!

Identifying Sulfides in the Field – Tools, Textures & Tests

If you want to find gold, you need to learn how to spot its closest companions—sulfide minerals like pyrite, chalcopyrite, and arsenopyrite. These metallic minerals form in the same hydrothermal systems as gold and act as chemical clues to hidden ore zones.

This module walks you through the field methods, tools, and simple tests that help you identify sulfides quickly—without needing a lab.

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🔬 Why Sulfides Matter

Sulfide minerals are metallic compounds of sulfur bonded with metals like iron, copper, or arsenic. They crystallize from hot, mineral-rich fluids and often form in faults, fractures, and hydrothermal veins.

Gold can occur:
• Inside sulfide grains (especially pyrite and arsenopyrite)
• Along fractures in sulfide-rich veins
• In supergene zones just beneath oxidized sulfides

If you can identify sulfides, you can locate gold-bearing systems before anyone else does.

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🧰 Field Tools You’ll Need:
• Rock Hammer: For breaking fresh samples
• Streak Plate: To determine the true streak color
• Magnet: For detecting magnetic sulfides like pyrrhotite
• 10% HCl Acid Dropper: To reveal alteration or carbonate zones
• Hand Lens (10x): To examine grain structure and texture
• Sample Bags & Tags: For organized collection and geolocation

These tools are lightweight, inexpensive, and crucial for prospecting on foot.

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🔎 How to Identify Common Sulfides

Pyrite (FeS₂):
• Pale brass color
• Cubic crystals
• Black streak
• Non-magnetic
• Common in shear zones and quartz veins

Chalcopyrite (CuFeS₂):
• Brassy-yellow with possible iridescence
• Green-black streak
• Softer than pyrite (hardness ~4)
• Non-magnetic
• Found in porphyry and VMS-style deposits

Arsenopyrite (FeAsS):
• Silver metallic, heavy
• Gray-black streak
• Smells like garlic when struck
• Common in mesothermal/orogenic gold veins

Pyrrhotite (Fe₁₋ₓS):
• Bronze-colored, slightly reddish
• Dark gray streak
• Weakly magnetic
• Found in skarn and contact metamorphic zones

Each has specific associations with gold. If you’re in faulted terrain or see quartz veining with these minerals—you’re in a target zone.

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🔍 Additional Clues in the Field

Sulfides weather over time, producing gossans—iron-stained rocks made of limonite, goethite, and hematite. These oxidized remnants may preserve the boxwork texture of the original sulfide and still lead you to gold beneath.

Look for:
• Rust-red staining around quartz or breccia zones
• Quartz float with metallic glints
• Zones with low vegetation (caused by acidic sulfide weathering)
• Converging fault traces with alteration halos

Don’t just look at the surface—break the rock. The interior may tell a different story.

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🧠 Pro Tips
• Always sample below highly oxidized surfaces
• Use magnets and streak tests to rule out non-metallic imposters like mica or hematite
• Arsenopyrite is one of the strongest indicators of gold—but also one of the least recognized
• Label every sample by GPS and rock type to avoid confusion later

Knowing your sulfides improves your hit rate. You’ll waste less time sampling barren rock and spend more time zeroing in on the source.

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📌 Final Takeaway

Many prospectors have walked past sulfide-rich zones thinking it was just “fool’s gold.” But sulfides are the geochemical backbone of most gold systems. The key is knowing how to spot, test, and trust what you see in the field.

With just a few tools and a practiced eye, you’ll start finding more than just pretty rocks—you’ll find the signs of real gold systems waiting to be uncovered.

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📥 Download the PDF Field Guide

Want a print-ready version with identification tables and quick reference tips? Download the Module 3 PDF and bring it into the field.

If you find this video helpful, give it a like and share it with fellow geology enthusiasts!

#GoldMining #Sulfides #Geology #MineralIdentification #Prospecting #InVideo #aigoldmap