It’s fool’s gold, says dept
JOHOR BARU: All that glitters is not gold. The state Mineral and Geoscience Department has confirmed that the “gold nuggets” found in Kampung Melayu Majidee here were actually iron pyrite.Its director, Shahar Effendi Abdullah Azizi, said a sample was taken from the site yesterday and “it is confirmed that it is not gold”. Iron pyrite is characterised by its brassyellow hue, which gives off a lustre similar to gold. “The pyrite rocks found in Kampung Melayu Majidee were in small quantity. They are commonly found in granites used in road upgrading projects and pyrite is a common mineral. "Shahar said pyrite was also nicknamed "fool's gold" because of its yellowish hue.
"It has no value and I hope everyone will not be fooled by this find.
"I was told that the pyrite rocks came from a quarry in Kulaijaya for a road and drainage upgrading project here."
Unwittingly, the gold rush has also landed those who dug up the road in trouble with the law for trespassing into government property.
If found guilty, a person may be fined up to RM10,000 and jailed up to a year.
Shahar said a report had been submitted to the Johor Land and Mineral Office for further action.
In the past three days, huge crowds had been flocking to dig up the road there for what they claimed was gold.
The discovery came about earlier this month when Johor Baru City Council workers, who were upgrading the road, found the nuggets, said to be valued at thousands of ringgit a piece.
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