if you know any of the rest I need these too:graphitehalitemagnetitequartzsulfurtalcmicskernite vermiculite
At first I would beleive that this is pyrite. Or fools gold. A good test is to put it on a hard surface and the poke it hard with a knife. Or squeeze it between pliers. If it breaks its pyrite. If it bends, you have either a foil, or possibly gold. Another test you could do is put a few of these flakes in a bowl or pan along with some dirt you have in the carden, put in a small amount of water. Shake it all up, hold the pan and bang the side, this will cause the heavier material to sink to the bottom. now swish it around soflty and slowly, if you can get the gold colored stuff to stay, and everything else to float off, you have gold. This process is called gold panning. If it is indeed gold, I would recommend you start digging. Gold is at $893 per ounce. But i doubt your are just diggin up gold flakes, even though it is possible, i would guess its pirite, or trash, or foil capsules from fertilizer
No idea, you might want to check with the local extension service. Take a bit of the soil and the flakes into them and ask for soil analysis. Should be free, and extension services are usually run by the county or local university.
