mineral

Gold Nugget

Native Gold (Au)

Hardness: 2.5-3.0 Mohs; Color: Golden-yellow; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Isometric (rarely visible in nuggets); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 15.5-19.3 (very heavy).

Hardness: 2
Color: Golden-yellow
Luster: Metallic

Identified April 1, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 2.5-3.0 Mohs; Color: Golden-yellow; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Isometric (rarely visible in nuggets); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 15.5-19.3 (very heavy).

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal quartz veins via volcanic activity. Placer nuggets like this are concentrated by the weathering of these veins and sorted by flowing water in stream beds through alluviation.

Uses & applications

Currency, investment/bullion, jewelry, high-end electronics, dentistry, and aerospace engineering.

Geological facts

Gold is incredibly malleable; a single ounce can be beaten into a sheet 300 square feet in size. Nuggets are significantly rarer than gold dust and command a price higher than the spot gold price due to their rarity as specimens.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its high density (feels much heavier than it looks), extreme malleability (it will dent rather than shatter if hit), and its ability to maintain color in all light angles unlike pyrite (fools gold). Found in alluvial deposits and ancient riverbeds.