mineral

Gold Nugget

Native Gold (Au)

Hardness: 2.5-3.0 (Mohs scale); Color: Golden yellow, brassy; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Isometric (cubic); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 19.3 (very heavy for its size)

Hardness: 2
Color: Golden yellow, brassy
Luster: Metallic

Identified April 10, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 2.5-3.0 (Mohs scale); Color: Golden yellow, brassy; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Isometric (cubic); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 19.3 (very heavy for its size)

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal quartz veins by hot, mineral-rich fluids. Nuggets often accumulate in alluvial deposits (placer deposits) through the erosion of these veins. Can be found in geological ages ranging from Archean to the present.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics, dentistry, investment (bullion), jewelry, and as highly prized collector specimens.

Geological facts

Gold is chemically inert, meaning it does not tarnish or corrode. Most gold on Earth came from meteorite strikes after the core formed. The largest gold nugget ever found was the 'Welcome Stranger,' found in Australia in 1869, weighing 72 kg.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its high density (it is much heavier than it looks), malleability (it bends rather than shatters under pressure), and metallic luster that does not change when shaded. Commonly found in stream beds or old river channels.