How to tell

[TheVince]

How can I tell the difference between real gold and fools gold? I dont know the way to tell if gold actually is gold. Is there a certain characteristic to that tells for sure?

[Ant]

My answer if refering to raw gold.

Gold does not crack or shatter like pyrite (fools gold) does, it will bend like lead. One good way to identify small specks of what might be gold is by looking at the suspect piece under a magnifier. Use a straight needle to press on the speck, if it cracks its fools gold, if it bends its most likely gold. Pyrite also has straight edges and right angle, like glitter, but most gold doesn’t. Gold doesn't sparkle like pyrite either, gold has luster.

There are other ways to tell but those are free.