Cochise College          Photos of Minerals

                          Geology Home Page                

                          Roger Weller, geology instructor

                          wellerr@cochise.edu
                                  copyright 2006-R.Weller
 

Mineral Information on:
gold

Chemical Group:    native element

Chemical Formula:    Au   (gold)

Color:  gold-yellow, sometimes pale-yellow         Streak:  gold-yellow

Hardness:  2.5 to 3        Specific Gravity:  15.6 to 19.33 (pure)                

Luster:  metallic            Malleability:  extremely malleable

Crystal Forms:  Isometric system
   Gold forms distorted an often elongated crystals of octahedrons, cubes, and dodecahedrons.
     Gold also forms dendrites.

Mineral Associations:  commonly found in milky quartz

Identifying Characteristics:  color, softness, malleability

Uses:  tooth fillings, electrical contacts, jewelry, coins

Occurrences: 

Toxicity:      when-swallowed- low           when inhaled- low

Additional Information:  Native gold is often alloyed with silver; silver content ranging up to 16%.