mineral

Gold Nugget

Native Gold (Au)

Hardness: 2.5-3.0 (Mohs scale), Color: Metallic yellow, Luster: Metallic, Crystal Structure: Cubic (often found as irregular masses or nuggets), Cleavage: None, Specific Gravity: 19.3

Hardness: 2

Identified April 10, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 2.5-3.0 (Mohs scale), Color: Metallic yellow, Luster: Metallic, Crystal Structure: Cubic (often found as irregular masses or nuggets), Cleavage: None, Specific Gravity: 19.3

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal quartz veins via volcanic activity. Placer deposits (like this nugget) are formed when the original rock erodes and the heavy gold is concentrated in riverbeds by water flow over thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Primary use is in jewelry, currency, and investment bullion. It is also used extensively in electronics due to high conductivity and resistance to corrosion, and in dentistry.

Geological facts

Most gold on Earth arrived via meteorite bombardment during the planet's early history; it is much denser than most other minerals, allowing it to settle at the bottom of gold pans.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its 'malleability' (it will dent or bend under pressure rather than shatter like pyrite) and its sectility. Commonly found in alluvial gravels or inside quartz veins in mountainous regions.