you are very very lucky man!!! I use to do it when I was young and now and then i get chance to to do it!!!, but not as often as I wish :(... True treasure hunting!!!

I am looking thru my other pie gold beads (been in my possession over 15yrs see picture) and under good magnification, its does look different but smooth... What is interesting on your triangular bead - it has this puffy look on surface that I can't see on animal/insect/owl bead!

If you clean gold with acid - everything what is NOT gold goes away and you have holes in the gold microstructure, that I can spot on your photo 1 but not on photo 2? What you think?

And thank you so much for interesting conversation and great pictures!

Cheers