Two odd things in my pan

[oldies1955]

Last night after panning out the cons from the trommel, I found two odd looking "rocks" in my pan

The eight sided one is very magnetic. The square one is not.

Any idea what they are?

Im thinking some VERY rare mineral that is worth thousands of dollars!

Tom H.

[nuggethunting]

Hey Tom,

My first guess would be a Magnetite crystal for the magnetic one and maybe a Hematite crystal for the non-magnetic one. Both would be typically found in and around gold placers if you were drywashing, dredging, sluicing or panning.

Just my thoughts,

Rob Allison

[Gold Seeker]

The square cube appears to be Limonite after pyrite, usually when you find Limonite after pyrite in a gold bearing area it's a good sign gold will be nearby.

http://www.desertusa.com/mag06/mar/cubes.html

http://www.greatsouth.net/minerals/p-M821.html

http://gdavis.web.arizona.edu/node/84

Skip

[Reno Chris]

Rob is right. That eight sided double pyramid shape is the crystal form for magnetite. It would be worth thousands if you had a mountain of it.

Chris

[nuggethunting]

Hey Guys,

Reno Chris - Thanks for the confirmation. Figured it's pretty common to find these.

Tom - I've also found a lot of Red Garnets in placer concentrates in Arizona. One area I dredged for many years was loaded with garnet sands and small, red garnets. Not sure any of them were gem quality, tossed most of them back unless it was larger piece.

Talk with you later,

Rob Allison

[oldies1955]

Rob is right. That eight sided double pyramid shape is the crystal form for magnetite. It would be worth thousands if you had a mountain of it.

Gol dang it! I already called my boss and told him I was quiting the job....crap.....

Ive seen lots of magnetite, but just never one this well formed. Its not very big. Bout 1/8 inch wide. Heck even if you dont get the yeller stuff in the bottom of the pan there may be other intersting things in there.

Rob:

I used to get a lot of garnet also when I dredged the bradshaws. Just very small stuff.

Tom H.

[LuckyLundy]

Those Magnetite Crystals fooled a many of prospector's thinking there where Black Diamonds! Both are great signs of gold and love seeing both of them just before I hit bedrock in a dredge hole.

LuckyLundy