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Identity HelpCould this be natural silver?

11th Jun 2012 01:15 UTCDaniel jacobs

This was recovered in Connecticut. The second picture is the backside, and I ran hot water over the back so you can see it better.

It is not attracted to a magnet.

It can scratch my fingernail.

It cannot scratch one of my forms of green calcite, it could scratch another form of calcite when pressed very hard.

It cannot scratch Fluorite.

11th Jun 2012 01:32 UTCRock Currier Expert

It might be silver. Where did you get it? Do a specific gravity on it and see how well it matches that of silver. See if it conducts electricity well.

11th Jun 2012 01:36 UTCDaniel jacobs

I found it in Connecticut. I dont know the exact whereabouts. But most likely Portland.

11th Jun 2012 01:48 UTCDaniel jacobs

It weighs 2.2 grams, but I dont have all the resources to do a SG test

11th Jun 2012 03:26 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager

It definitely looks the part of silver, and according to the database, silver is reported from these five localities in Connecticut, so it is plausable. I would try to get a SG test as Rock suggested. Maybe take it to a local mineral club or university geology department to get their opinion on it as well.

11th Jun 2012 03:53 UTCDaniel jacobs

Maybe ill bring it by a pawn shop to see if they can do a silver chemical test for me for no charge.

11th Jun 2012 05:18 UTCD Mike Reinke

2.2 grams doesn't sound like much, but I'm not sure how much water it can displace. If you can find out that, let us know. Silver is heavy, so it should feel distinctly heavier in your hand than quartz or a dark rock it's size. Even impure, it should have an SG of 10-ish, way heavier than quartz' 2.6 or a dark rock, maybe 3...

11th Jun 2012 07:58 UTCOlav Revheim Manager

It appears very light for silver. 1 cm³ silver would weigh some 11 grams. Based on the photos, your piece appears to be not less than 1 cm³ in volume. Could it be some organic matter?

Olav