mineral
Gold Placer (Gold Flakes and Nuggets)
Native Gold (Au)
Hardness: 2.5–3 on Mohs scale; Color: Golden-yellow; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Isometric (rarely visible in flakes); Specific Gravity: 19.3 (very high)
- Hardness
- 2
- Color
- Golden-yellow
- Luster
- Metallic
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Physical properties
Hardness: 2.5–3 on Mohs scale; Color: Golden-yellow; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Isometric (rarely visible in flakes); Specific Gravity: 19.3 (very high)
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins within igneous rocks, then eroded and transported by water to settle in riverbeds or alluvial deposits. Most placer gold is from the Quaternary period.
Uses & applications
Primary use as currency, investment, jewelry, and high-conductivity electronics (connectors, plating).
Geological facts
Gold is so malleable that a single ounce can be beaten into a sheet 300 square feet in size. About 80% of the world's accessible gold is still in the ground.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its high density (stays at the bottom of a pan), malleability (it dents, not shatters), and lack of tarnish. Commonly found in stream beds, inside bends of rivers, and behind large boulders.
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