mineral
Gold Ore
Native Gold (Au) in Quartz or Silicate matrix
Hardness: 2.5-3 (gold), 7 (quartz); Color: Buttery yellow (metallic) in beige/tan rock; Luster: Metallic for metallic parts, dull/greasy for matrix; Structure: Isometric; Cleavage: None
- Hardness
- 2
- Color
- Buttery yellow (metallic) in beige/tan rock
- Luster
- Metallic for metallic parts, dull/greasy for matrix
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Physical properties
Hardness: 2.5-3 (gold), 7 (quartz); Color: Buttery yellow (metallic) in beige/tan rock; Luster: Metallic for metallic parts, dull/greasy for matrix; Structure: Isometric; Cleavage: None
Formation & geological history
Formed via hydrothermal vents and cooling of mineral-rich hot fluids in quartz veins, typically within igneous and metamorphic terrains. Most accessible deposits range from Precambrian to Tertiary ages.
Uses & applications
Primary source of gold for investment, electronics, jewelry, and dental applications; also highly sought after as mineral specimens for collectors.
Geological facts
Unlike many yellow minerals like pyrite, native gold is malleable and will dent rather than shatter when struck. It is also one of the densest minerals on Earth.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its high specific gravity, lack of streak on most surfaces, and extreme malleability. Commonly found in quartz veins and placer deposits near tectonic plate boundaries.
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