mineral
Gold Nugget
Native Gold (Au)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 2.5-3 (Mohs scale), Color: Golden yellow, Luster: Metallic, Crystal Structure: Cubic, Cleavage: None, Specific Gravity: 19.3
- Hardness
- 2
Identified More mineral →
Explore Gold Nugget in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 2.5-3 (Mohs scale), Color: Golden yellow, Luster: Metallic, Crystal Structure: Cubic, Cleavage: None, Specific Gravity: 19.3
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal quartz veins by precipitation from hot mineral-rich fluids deep in the crust, or concentrated in placer deposits through erosion and stream transport.
Uses & applications
Financial investment (bullion), jewelry, electronics (conductivity), and dentistry because it is non-reactive.
Geological facts
Gold is incredibly malleable; a single ounce can be beaten into a sheet covering 100 square feet. Most terrestrial gold originated from meteorite impacts billions of years ago.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its density (it is much heavier than it looks), malleability (it bends rather than shatters), and bright yellow streak. Found in quartz veins or stream beds.
More like this
Other mineral specimens
Gneiss or Schist
Gneiss or Mica Schist with Garnet
Metamorphic
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Tumbled granite
Granite, a coarse-grained felsic intrusive igneous rock
igneous
Epidote
Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
metamorphic
Pegmatite with Tourmaline and Quartz
Igneous Pegmatite
igneous
Granite
Granite (Phaneritic intrusive igneous rock)
igneous