mineral

Gold Nugget

Native Gold (Au)

Hardness: 2.5-3.0 Mohs; Color: Golden-yellow; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Isometric (cubic); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 19.3

Hardness: 2
Color: Golden-yellow
Luster: Metallic

Identified May 7, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 2.5-3.0 Mohs; Color: Golden-yellow; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Isometric (cubic); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 19.3

Formation & geological history

Primary deposits form in hydrothermal quartz veins during Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide or Orogenic events. Secondary (placer) deposits form through the erosion of these veins and subsequent concentration in stream beds by gravity.

Uses & applications

Used primarily in jewelry, currency, electronics (due to high conductivity/anti-corrosion), and as a financial investment.

Geological facts

Gold is chemically inert and does not tarnish. Nearly all the gold found on Earth came from meteorite bombardments occurring roughly 200 million years after the planet formed.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its high density (heavy for its size), malleability (it bends rather than shatters), and lack of tarnish. Commonly found in 'black sand' deposits in rivers or within quartz veins in mountainous regions.