mineral

Gold Nugget / Placer Gold

Native Gold (Au)

Mohs hardness: 2.5-3; Color: Bright metallic yellow to yellowish-brown, often weathered with iron staining; Luster: Metallic; Crystal system: Isometric (cubic), though typically irregular in nuggets; Specific gravity: 15.5-19.3 (very heavy); Malleable and ductile.

Hardness: 2
Luster: Metallic

Identified July 25, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed primarily in hydrothermally injected quartz veins associated with igneous and metamorphic rock processes. Placer gold nuggets are eroded from primary veins and concentrated by river and stream action.

Uses & applications

Highly prized for jewelry, currency, financial investment, electronics manufacturing, and mineral specimen collecting.

Geological facts

Native gold is one of the few elements that occurs naturally in its pure elemental state. Placer nuggets are created over long periods as river currents roll, smooth, and naturally cold-weld smaller gold flakes together.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its high density (feels unusually heavy for its size), bright golden streak, extreme softness (can be bent or scratched easily with steel), and lack of cleavage. Common in alluvial gravel deposits, streams, and quartz veins.