mineral
Gold Nugget
Gold (Au)
Hardness: 2.5-3 on Mohs scale; Color: Golden yellow to bright yellow; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Isometric (cubic); Cleavage: None (hackly fracture); Specific Gravity: High (approx. 19.3 when pure)
- Hardness
- 2
- Color
- Golden yellow to bright yellow
- Luster
- Metallic
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Physical properties
Hardness: 2.5-3 on Mohs scale; Color: Golden yellow to bright yellow; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Isometric (cubic); Cleavage: None (hackly fracture); Specific Gravity: High (approx. 19.3 when pure)
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins associated with quartz, often deposited by hot water solutions moving through the Earth's crust, and later weathered out into placer deposits in rivers and streams.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in jewelry, investment bullion, electronics, and aerospace technology.
Geological facts
Gold is extremely malleable and ductile; a single gram can be beaten into a sheet of one square meter or drawn into a wire over 2 kilometers long.
Field identification & locations
Found by panning in streams and rivers (placer deposits), identifiable by its bright yellow metallic luster, high density (heavy feel for its size), and resistance to tarnish.
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