mineral

Gold Nugget

Native Gold (Au)

Hardness: 2.5-3.0 Mohs; Color: Golden yellow to brassy; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Isometric (rarely visible in nuggets); SG: 19.3 (very high); Malleable and ductile.

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

Identified July 16, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 2.5-3.0 Mohs; Color: Golden yellow to brassy; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Isometric (rarely visible in nuggets); SG: 19.3 (very high); Malleable and ductile.

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal quartz veins via precipitation from hot, mineral-rich fluids. Often found as secondary deposits in riverbeds (alluvial placers) where they have been concentrated by erosion and water flow.

Uses & applications

Primary source of monetary gold, highly valued for jewelry, electronic components, medical applications, and as high-end collector specimens.

Geological facts

Unlike many other minerals, gold is a native element. The largest nugget ever found, the 'Welcome Stranger', weighed over 70 kg. Gold is so malleable that a single gram can be beaten into a one-square-meter sheet.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its high density, metallic luster, and sectility (you can dent it with a pin without it shattering). Look for it in gravel bars on the inside bends of streams or in quartz outcroppings.