How can you tell if something is metal? Geologists and scientists come here!?

Question

My friend and I had a fight about whether one of her rocks was metal. It's shiny, metal colored, and defenitley has me convinced, but she said she found it in a cave, Big Mouthed Cave, in california. I hope someone can help me. When me and my friend argue over something, we don't make up until it's clear who's right and who's wrong.

Thanks!

Tenette

Answer 1

Identify the mineral.  Just because it's shiny and metal colored doesn't mean it's a metal.  Also, just because it was found in a cave doesn't mean it's *not* a metal.

And BTW, true friends don't let something this stupid get in the way of their friendship.  Stubbornness is a shallow and very unattractive quality.  Learn to either compromise or let it go.

Answer 2

Many non-metallic earth materials have a metallic sheen, including a number of common sulfides and oxides such as pyrite and marcasite.

1) See if it has clear crystal faces (not a metal).

2) Wash it in distilled water, then see if it conducts electricity (metal).

3) See if it becomes appreciably less brittle as you heat it up (metal).

4) Do a streak test and compare results with expected results.