mineral

Gold Nugget / Gold Flakes

Native Gold (Au)

Hardness: 2.5–3 on Mohs scale; Color: Metallic golden yellow; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Isometric (rarely visible in nuggets); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 19.3 (very high)

Hardness: 2
Color: Metallic golden yellow
Luster: Metallic

Identified June 9, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 2.5–3 on Mohs scale; Color: Metallic golden yellow; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Isometric (rarely visible in nuggets); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 19.3 (very high)

Formation & geological history

Formed primarily in hydrothermal quartz veins or through the weathering of those veins into alluvial placer deposits. Gold is a native element often billion of years old, concentrated by water and gravity in stream beds.

Uses & applications

Primary use in jewelry, investment (bullion), electronics due to high conductivity, and dentistry.

Geological facts

Gold is extremely malleable and ductile; a single ounce can be beaten into a sheet covering 100 square feet. It is one of the few elements that does not tarnish or oxidize.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its high density (it is much heavier than it looks), soft malleability (it will dent rather than shatter), and persistent color even in shade. Commonly found in river beds or quartz-heavy mountainous regions.