Why did marshalls fellow workers accuse him of finding fools gold?

Marshall's fellow workers accused him of finding fool's gold because they believed he was overly enthusiastic about a discovery that turned out to be worthless. They thought his excitement was misplaced and that he was misidentifying the mineral, which is often mistaken for real gold. This skepticism reflected a broader attitude of caution and skepticism among miners, who had seen many false hopes in the search for gold. Ultimately, their accusations highlighted the harsh realities of mining and the challenges of discerning true value in untested finds.