All that Glitters...

Iron pyrite, pictured above, is the classic "Fool's Gold". This, or perhaps some other shiny, brassy metal, was found by the English not far from Jamestown.

 

Spanish ships returned home laden with treasure; the English had no doubt there was gold to be found in Virginia. Neglecting more pressing survival needs, all the men did was “dig gold, wash gold, refine gold, load gold,” wrote the exasperated Captain John Smith. He was even more disgusted to report that the “gold” proved naught but “gilded dirt”.

 

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