mineral

Native Gold Flake

Gold (Au)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 2.5 - 3 on Mohs scale. Color: Golden yellow, but can vary to silvery white when alloyed with silver. Luster: Metallic. Crystal structure: Isometric (cubic). Cleavage: None (hackly fracture). Specific gravity: 19.3 (very heavy).

Hardness: 2
Luster: Metallic

Identified August 7, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins, associated with quartz, or in placer deposits where weathering has eroded veins and concentrated the dense metal in river gravels.

Uses & applications

Used in jewelry, coinage, electronics, investment, and dentistry.

Geological facts

Gold is extremely malleable and ductile; a single ounce can be beaten into a sheet covering 300 square feet. Nearly all gold on Earth came from meteorite bombardments over 4 billion years ago.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its distinctive metallic yellow color, extreme softness (can be scratched with a fingernail or coin), lack of tarnish, and very high density. Found worldwide in gold-bearing regions such as California, Alaska, Australia, and South Africa.