Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
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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 Haughtonstudent 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
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