Panning for Gold

Faces of the Gold Rush

What's the meaning?

You be the Judge...

Thompson River First Nations

If you thought the mineral of the left of the picture is a gold nugget, you are correct. The mineral on the right is the Pyrite sample. The colour of pyrite can seem very similar to that of gold in very tiny samples.

Gold has a much richer yellow colour while pyrite has a much paler yellow almost brassy colour.

So be careful when panning, you may end up with a pan full of Fool's Gold and not even realize it!