Jim in Idaho Posted June 14, 2020 Share Posted June 14, 2020 I was down in northern Nevada this week for some nugget hunting. All I found were two large, what appears to be, copper nuggets. But, the interior color is more silvery, or gray, than copper-colored. The nuggets I found last fall down there looked like a bright penny on the interior. These two have a black skin on the outside, and when filed away it shows a metallic gray. No attraction to a super magnet. They were both down about 10", and the small one was under a large rock. They were about 300 yards apart in the same drywash. The exposed metal leaves a coppery streak. The black skin leaves a dark gray, or nearly black streak. No way to get a specific gravity...my gem scale doesn't go high enough. Both were found the same morning with my TDI SL, with MJ 8 x12 FM. Weak, but repeatable signal. had to drag a 16" rock off the small one. Appreciate any help. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Valen Posted June 14, 2020 Share Posted June 14, 2020 Looks very interesting, but more beautiful than the rocks I find. I have no idea what they are but would like to find out also. Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donP Posted June 14, 2020 Share Posted June 14, 2020 Manganese Nodule? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesD Posted June 14, 2020 Share Posted June 14, 2020 Looks like a placered malachite and azurite "nugget" to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim in Idaho Posted June 14, 2020 Author Share Posted June 14, 2020 2 hours ago, donP said: Manganese Nodule? Don't know, Don. You can see pieces of copper embedded in the matrix metal, whatever it is. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klunker Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 The prize goes to WesD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim in Idaho Posted June 15, 2020 Author Share Posted June 15, 2020 1 hour ago, klunker said: The prize goes to WesD Don't know. certainly there are probably both on the surface. in fact, the black skin could definitely be malachite, but these are solid metal...not mineral. The metal is harder than brass, but softer than tool steel. It's a copper alloy, with nearly pure copper inclusions, if that helps. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mn90403 Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 Ask Chris Ralph and get it shot with a IR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim in Idaho Posted June 15, 2020 Author Share Posted June 15, 2020 Once I get caught up on the chores I neglected while prospecting, the first thing I'm going to do is get it shot with an XRF gun if the scrap metal place cooperates. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klunker Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 7 hours ago, Jim in Idaho said: I'm going to do is get it shot with an XRF gun Whatever it s it's kinda cute. keep us posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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