How did early prospectors use density to determine whether they had found gold or pyrite?

Early prospectors used density to determine whether they had found gold or pyrite by comparing the weight of the mineral sample to its volume. Gold has a higher density than pyrite, so a sample of gold would feel heavier for its size compared to a sample of pyrite. By calculating the density of the sample using the formula density = mass/volume, prospectors could determine if they had found gold or pyrite based on the density value obtained.