Arizona Rock and Mineral 1245 - Fool's Gold (2 Oz Bag) - Multi Scale

FOOLS GOLD is a striking scenic accent material designed to add sparkle and visual interest to your model railroad layout or diorama. Made from real crushed rock with a metallic gold-like shimmer, this product mimics the appearance of pyrite, commonly known as “fool’s gold.”

Use FOOLS GOLD to simulate mineral veins, mine tailings, or sparkling rock fragments in mining scenes, stream beds, and ore processing areas. It can also be scattered sparingly to highlight scenic areas or create fantasy and steampunk-style layouts.

This accent material pairs beautifully with ARMballast rock products, especially in scenes representing the Southwest, gold rush camps, or abandoned mines.

“1245 Fool’s Gold” is a striking scenic accent material that adds realistic, sparkling highlights to model-railroad layouts and dioramas. These fine, golden mica flakes catch the light beautifully, creating the illusion of mineral veins, sandy riverbanks, or weathered rock faces. Whether you’re detailing a Western mining scene or simply want a touch of metallic shimmer in your scenery, Fool’s Gold delivers instant visual interest and scale-perfect sparkle.

Application Instructions:

1. Sprinkle in desired areas using a spoon or fingers.
2. Mist with water (water + a drop of soap) to settle the material.
3. Seal with a 50/50 glue and water mixture applied by dropper or fine spray.
4. Use small amounts to draw the eye and create focal points for the best effect.

• Authentic Mica Flakes: Real mineral substrate that refracts light like natural pyrite

• Fine Grain: Easy to blend into ballast, ground cover, and diorama scatter

• Versatile Scale: Works equally well in N, HO, O, and G

• Multiple Bag Sizes: Available in 5 oz and 1 lb bags for small accents or broad coverage

• Non-Fading: Stable coloring won’t bleed or discolor over time

“Fool’s Gold” from ARM Ballast isn’t actually iron pyrite at all but finely crushed natural mica flakes, whose chemical makeup is generally KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂ (a potassium aluminum silicate hydroxide). These mica flakes are tumbled and graded to a consistent size, then left in their natural golden color so that, when sprinkled into ballast or ground cover, they catch and reflect light much like sparkling mineral veins—hence the nickname “Fool’s Gold.”