mineral
Gold Nugget
Native Gold (Au)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 2.5–3 on Mohs scale; Color: Golden-yellow; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Isometric; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 19.3
- Hardness
- 2
- Color
- Golden-yellow
- Luster
- Metallic
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 on Mohs scale; Color: Golden-yellow; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Isometric; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 19.3
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal quartz veins and concentrated through erosion into alluvial placer deposits. Geological age varies from Precambrian to Cenozoic.
Uses & applications
Currency, jewelry, electronics, dentistry, and aerospace due to high conductivity and resistance to corrosion.
Geological facts
Gold is incredibly malleable; a single ounce can be beaten into a sheet covering 100 square feet. It is one of the few elements found in its native state in nature.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its high density and malleability (it dents rather than shatters). Commonly found in riverbeds or near quartz outcroppings in mountainous regions like the Sierra Nevada or Yukon.
