mineral

Gold Nugget

Native Gold (Au)

Hardness: 2.5–3.0 on Mohs scale; Color: Golden-yellow, metallic; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Isometric/Cubic (usually found as irregular masses or nuggets); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 19.3 (very heavy).

Hardness: 2
Color: Golden-yellow, metallic
Luster: Metallic

Identified April 12, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal quartz veins via hot fluids in the Earth's crust; these specimens are 'placer gold,' meaning they were eroded from their original source and smoothed by water action in a stream or river.

Uses & applications

Used primarily in jewelry, as currency and investment bullion, and in electronics due to its high conductivity and resistance to corrosion.

Geological facts

Gold is so malleable that a single ounce can be beaten into a sheet covering nearly 100 square feet. Most gold found in pans like this has been naturally purified through environmental weathering.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its high density (it will stay at the bottom of a pan when shaken), its 'sectility' (can be cut with a knife without shattering), and its consistent color regardless of light angle (unlike pyrite or mica).