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To tell the difference between pyrite and real gold, you can check the color and shape of the ore. Gold and pyrite have a yellowish color but pyrite has a pale and brassy color compared to gold. Pyrites are shaped more like crystals while gold tends to form as a nugget. Another difference between the two is that gold can be scratched with a pocketknife while pyrite cannot be scratched. You also can use the malleability and odor tests.

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9y ago
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7y ago

The easiest way would be to strike it with a hammer. Pyrite will shatter and gold will not. There are also differences in weight (gold is much heavier), chemical composition, crystal structure, and streak color, but a hammer works well and doesn't require too much expertise.

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15y ago

There are differences in weight, streak, melting point, hardness and other characteristics that make it fairly easy to distinguish. The easiest way to determine which mineral it is, is probably by streak test. Rub the mineral across the unglazed side of a porcelain tile's surface. Pyrite will leave a greenish-black streak. Gold would leave a yellowish-gold streak.

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14y ago

Perform a streak test of the mineral by drawing it on the surface of an unglazed porcelain tile. If it is pyrite, the streak will appear greenish black.

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11y ago

Weight, Golf is heavy.

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1y ago

pyrite forms crystals where gold forms nuggets

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10y ago

Streak it

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Q: How do you tell the difference between gold the metal and pyrite also known as fool's gold?
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Related questions

What is fools gold rock made of?

Fools gold is known as iron pyrite


What type of iron is known as fools gold?

Iron Pyrite.


What is fool's gold made of?

Fools gold is known as iron pyrite


What mineral is found in the northern Piedmont province is known as fools gold?

Fools gold is iron sulphide (FeS2) or also known as pyrite.


What is another word for fool's gold?

Fools' gold is also known as iron pyrite.


What mineral is sometimes confused with gold?

Iron Oxide. Pyrite is known also as "Fool's Gold"


What is the common nickname for iron pyrite?

Iron pyrite is universally known as "Fools Gold". It does bear an astonishing resemblance to gold, but it is merely a sulfide of iron, nonetheless.


What minerals found in the northern Piedmont is known as fool gold?

Fools gold is iron sulphide (FeS2) or also known as pyrite.


What is the chemical name for fool's gold?

Fools gold is commonly known as Iron Pyrite which is Iron Disulfide - FeS2.


What mineral is nicknamed fools gold?

Iron pyrite, is an iron sulfide with the formula FeS2. This mineral's metallic luster and pale-to-normal, brass-yellow hue have earned it the nickname fool's gold due to its resemblance to gold.


What is an example of fools gold?

There isn't much for examples of fools gold in everyday items that you have in your house. About the only thing i can think of besides looking at a piece of fools gold in pictures on the internet or at a local rock shop or museum would be to crumple some tinfoil up and color it a dark gold. Where you see the small, almost square patterns in the tinfoil is a bit like fools gold. Iron Pyrite, this minerals metalic luster and pale brass-yellow hue have earned it the the nickname "fools gold" because of its resemblance to gold.


What element is known as fool's gold?

pyrite is known as fools gold.This mineral's metallic luster and pale-to-normal, brass-yellow hue have earned it the nickname fool's gold because of its resemblance to gold.