I found out about specific gravity just by chance reading this thread and decided to revisit my first gold find.
http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=279413
The test is not particularly practical for small pieces as it registered nothing on a .1g scale and the .001g scale I used has a 50g max... I ended up taping my piece and submerging it in a big bottle cap filled with water. My initial weights were all 2.559 or 2.560 but the density weights were much more variable with readings from .132 to .142. The readings would also not hold steady. From a specific gravity table .132 is the reading I should have gotten for 24k but 22k is in range as well with .142. I believe this shows good evidence of 24k though right?
https://www.hooverandstrong.com/casting-grain-specifications
This leads me to the hallmark. I was able to use a microscope this time and was able to see it much better. I searched "Chinese gold hallmarks" and got an ebay link with what looks like the last two characters of the stamp with the top part cut off. 足金 meaning "pure gold" However, there is clearly a character in front of it.
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Jewelry-Gemstones-Board-Group/Chinese-gold-hallmark/gpm-p/25188437
Searching the forum I only found one instance of the hallmark but the pics are now blurred. The character Stewart found is 手 which does not look anything like the "Z" shape I think I'm seeing. Google gives me results that are in Chinese and image searching is not very helpful either.
http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=136150&highlight=足金&page=3
Does anyone recognize the character?
http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=279413
The test is not particularly practical for small pieces as it registered nothing on a .1g scale and the .001g scale I used has a 50g max... I ended up taping my piece and submerging it in a big bottle cap filled with water. My initial weights were all 2.559 or 2.560 but the density weights were much more variable with readings from .132 to .142. The readings would also not hold steady. From a specific gravity table .132 is the reading I should have gotten for 24k but 22k is in range as well with .142. I believe this shows good evidence of 24k though right?
https://www.hooverandstrong.com/casting-grain-specifications
This leads me to the hallmark. I was able to use a microscope this time and was able to see it much better. I searched "Chinese gold hallmarks" and got an ebay link with what looks like the last two characters of the stamp with the top part cut off. 足金 meaning "pure gold" However, there is clearly a character in front of it.
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Jewelry-Gemstones-Board-Group/Chinese-gold-hallmark/gpm-p/25188437
Searching the forum I only found one instance of the hallmark but the pics are now blurred. The character Stewart found is 手 which does not look anything like the "Z" shape I think I'm seeing. Google gives me results that are in Chinese and image searching is not very helpful either.
http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=136150&highlight=足金&page=3
Does anyone recognize the character?