Here are a few simple tests that almost anyone can use to tell the difference between pyrite and gold. They can usually be done successfully by inexperienced people. However, wise people obtain a couple small pieces of pyrite and a couple small pieces of gold and use them to gain valuable experience.

CAUTION: All pieces of gold are valuable. However, any piece of gold with a nice crystal habit will have a premium value – often worth several times the value of its contained gold. That premium value can be ruined by some of the tests explained below. So, we have separated the tests into “destructive tests” and “non-destructive tests”. Be careful if you think that you might have a valuable gold specimen.