Gold & Other Metals

Gold and Silver were found in a few samples of the Shefa Yamim exploration area. However, these findings were made only as a of result mineralogical studies under binoculars.



Gold was found in sample No: 195 from alluvial sediments. This included a small nugget (0.4 x 0.5 mm.). A soft gold piece, with a bright yellow color and containing 2.84% Ag .

Silver was found in the sample from Shefa Yamim borehole VI, near the surface, within the Pleistocene - Recent sediments. It is predominantly red-colored and coarse, and represented by clay, silt, calcareous sandstone (known also by the local name “Kurkar”), and occasionally gravel, distributed along the river and tributary channels. Silty sand and gravel contain minor amount of angular dark basalt rocks.

Silver (5 pieces) small nuggets have been found.
The pieces vary 0.5– 1.5 mm in size. Silver is white with yellowish hue, opaque, with metallic luster. It contains Cu-6.1%; Zn-3.2% and Cd-9.6%. After carrying out mineralogical studies under binoculars and Electron Probe tests, we arrived at the conclusion that this mineral is similar to Argentite.