Gold panning is a fun outdoor activity and can even earn you some extra money. However, if you plan to sell gold, you must first be able to tell whether or not it’s real. Inexperienced prospectors are often disappointed upon discovering their findings are actually pyrite, which has been nicknamed fool’s gold because of its resemblance to the precious metal. Here are a few easy ways to identify fool’s gold.

How to Spot the Difference Between Fool’s Gold & Real Gold

1. Physical Characteristics

Begin by looking at the physical characteristics of the piece you’ve found. Real gold is typically a metallic yellow color and is smooth with round edges, whereas pyrite looks brassy and is formed into cube-shaped crystals with sharp edges.

2. Smell

Next, hold the piece up to your nose and do a sniff test. Gold doesn’t have any odor; in contrast, pyrite has a sulfur-like smell. This is one of the most obvious ways to determine if you can sell gold.

3. Malleability

Gold is soft and malleable. Thus, if you hit it with a hammer, it will flatten underneath the force. On the other hand, fool’s gold is brittle and will simply shatter when hit. You may also notice it produce a spark, which real gold won’t do.

4. Residue

Finally, you should perform a streak test before attempting to sell gold. Scratch the material against white porcelain and examine the residue it leaves behind. Gold will produce a yellow mark, but pyrite will leave a greenish-black mark.

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