What does “refractory” gold, copper, or silver mean?

When we say refractory, it means the metal isn’t present as free flakes or nuggets. Instead, it’s locked inside the crystal structure of sulfide minerals like pyrite, arsenopyrite, or tetrahedrite.

Refractory gold: Invisible to the naked eye, often trapped inside sulfides. It cannot be panned or easily recovered without specialized processing.

Refractory silver: Commonly tied up in complex sulfides such as tetrahedrite.

Refractory copper: Present within minerals like tetrahedrite or chalcopyrite, not as visible native copper or colorful oxides.

These metals are part of the mineral assemblage but are not present in a way that makes them visible or directly recoverable by collectors or hobbyists.

Are these specimens “gold ore”?

No. These pieces are not sold as gold ore and are not intended for processing or refining.

Some specimens may contain traces of refractory gold, silver, or copper within the sulfides. Others may not contain any precious metals at all. They are collected and prepared because they are visually striking specimens — chosen for their quartz crystals, colors, textures, and abundant sulfide minerals. Gold is sometimes present in its native form, but this is quite rare. If gold and/or sulfide minerals are present, they will be included in the description for the specific specimen displaying it.

Each piece is unique, and its value lies in being a geological specimen that tells the story of mineralization in the Victorian Goldfields, not in the recoverable metal content.

 

What does the “sulfidation rating” mean?

Each specimen in the OzGeology Collection is given a sulfidation rating to help you understand how much sulfide mineralization (mainly pyrite, arsenopyrite, and chalcopyrite) is visible in the rock.

Low Sulfidation – Only a few scattered flecks of sulfides can be seen.

Moderate Sulfidation – A noticeable number of sulfide flecks are present and easy to view.

Moderate–High Sulfidation – Abundant flecks of sulfides throughout the specimen.

High Sulfidation – Large clusters or dense concentrations of pyrite and other sulfides are clearly visible.

This rating is based on visual inspection and is intended as a guide for collectors. It does not indicate the economic grade or recoverable metal content of the specimen. Each piece is chosen for its visual and geological character rather than its ore value.

 

What if my rock arrives broken?

I take great care in packing each specimen securely, but sometimes accidents can happen during shipping.

If your specimen arrives broken, you have two options:

I can ship out another specimen of equal value, or

I can issue you a refund once the original specimen has been returned.

Your satisfaction is important, and I want you to feel confident ordering unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. Just contact me with a short video of the damage, and we’ll sort it out quickly.