mineral
Gold
Native Gold (Au)
Hardness: 2.5-3.0 (Mohs); Color: Golden yellow to brassy; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Isometric; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 19.3 (pure)
- Hardness
- 2
- Color
- Golden yellow to brassy
- Luster
- Metallic
Identified More mineral →
Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 2.5-3.0 (Mohs); Color: Golden yellow to brassy; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Isometric; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 19.3 (pure)
Formation & geological history
Formed via hydrothermal veins, volcanic deposits, and sedimentary 'placer' deposits. Found in rocks of all geological ages, notably Precambrian through Cenozoic.
Uses & applications
Primary use in jewelry, investment/bullion, electronics, and medical/dental applications due to high conductivity and corrosion resistance.
Geological facts
Gold is incredibly ductile; a single ounce can be drawn into a wire 50 miles long. It is non-reactive and does not tarnish, which is why it has been a store of value for millennia.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its high density and malleability (doesn't crack when flattened). Commonly found in quartz veins or as rounded grains in river beds (black sands).
More like this
Other mineral specimens
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Epidote
Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
metamorphic
Nephrite Jade
Nephrite
Mineral/Rock
Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)
Gneiss (specifically a banded variety often found as a river rock)
Metamorphic Rock
![Green Apatite on Albite (Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]) — mineral](https://media.rockidentification.com/2391a63f-fb20-47d5-af9a-2035851eb32e-thumbnail.jpg)
Green Apatite on Albite
Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]
mineral
Epidote
Epidote - Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)3(SiO4)3(OH)
mineral