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Gold  (Native)
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Chemistry:  Au  [Elemental Gold]

Discovered in Prehistory;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered).
Gold is an Old English word for the metal; perhaps related to the Sanskrit jval; chemical symbol (Au) from the Latin word aurum, meaning shining dawn.

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Elements

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

1/A.01-10

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

1.AA.05

1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
A : Copper-cupalite family

Related to:

Copper Group. Gold - Silver Series. Gold - Palladium Series.

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Isometric - Hexoctahedral

Crystal Habit:

As octahedra, dodecahedra, and cubes, typically crude or rounded, to about 5 cm. In twinned and parallel crystal groups; reticulated, dendritic, arborescent, platy, filiform, spongy; massive, and in rounded nuggets; scales and flakes.

Twinning:

Common on [111]; repeated to form reticulated and dendritic aggregates.

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

None Observed

Fracture:

Hackly, Jagged

Tenacity:

Highly Malleable and Ductile

Hardness (Mohs):

2.5 - 3.0

Density:

19.30 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Other:

Highly Conductive

Optical Properties

Color:

Yellow, pale Yellow, Orange, Yellow White, Reddish White

Transparency:

Opaque

Luster:

Metallic

Refractive Index:

R: (400) 36.8, (420) 36.8, (440) 36.4, (460) 36.1, (480) 36.7, (500) 45.3, (520) 62.5, (540) 75.0, (560) 82.2, (580) 86.8, (600) 89.7, (620) 91.9, (640) 93.3, (660) 94.1, (680) 94.8, (700) 95.3

Birefringence:

0.00 (Opaque)

Pleochroism:

None

Occurances

Geological Setting:

Widespread in very small q\uantities in rocks of many kinds throughout the world, and in sea water. In veins of epithermal origin, typically in quartz with pyrite and other sulfides, and with tellurides; in pegmatites; in contact metamorphic deposits. Common in placers.

Common Associations:

Altaite, Ankerite, Arsenopyrite, Calaverite, Chalcopyrite, Krennerite, Pyrite, Pyrrhotite, Quartz, Scheelite, Sylvanite, Tetradymite, Tourmaline,

Common Impurities:

Ag, Cu, Pd

Type Locality:

Prehistic

Year Discovered:

Prehistic

View mineral photos:

Gold Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Gold is a native element and precious metal and has long been prized for its beauty, resistance to chemical attack and workability. As it is found as a native element, has a relatively low melting point (1063 degrees Celsius) and is malleable, it has been used by mankind for thousands of years. Gold is also used as a standard for international currency and is widely used in jewelry, electronics (where its superb properties as a conductor help offset its tremendous cost), dentistry and in photographic processes.

Gold occurs in significant amounts in three main types of deposits: veins of hydrothermal and related origin; in consolidated placer deposits, and in unconsolidated placer deposits. It may also occur in granitic pegmatites, in contact metamorphic deposits, and in hypo-thermal deposits. It is commonly found as disseminated grains in Quartz veins with Pyrite and other sulphides, or as rounded grains, flakes or nuggets in placer deposits and in streams and rivers. Gold is often panned from such deposits by taking advantage of its high density to wash away the lighter sediments from a pan or sluice.

There are many localities worldwide for fine gold specimens for mineral collectors and native Gold cabochons.
 

  
Gold gems for sale:

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