 |
| Gold Nugget Photo by Rob Lavinsky |
Sample No.
|
100
|
101
|
102
|
103
|
Color
|
Gold
|
Brass-Yellow
|
Pale Brass/Yellow
|
Brownish/Gold weathered
|
Luster
|
Metallic
|
Metallic
|
Metallic
|
Glassy
|
Crystal System
|
Isometric
|
Tetragonal
|
Isometric
|
Monoclinic
|
Composition
|
Au +Ag
|
FeCuS2
|
FeS2
|
X2Y4–6Z8O20(OH,F)4
|
Form
|
Nugget
|
Crystalline
|
Crystalline
|
Crystalline
|
Hardness
|
2.76
|
3.75 Avg.
|
6.25 Avg.
|
2.25
|
Streak
|
Gold
|
Greenish-Black
|
Greenish-Black
|
White
|
Sp. Gravity
|
17.8 Avg.
|
4.18 Avg.
|
4.9 Avg.
|
2.8
|
Cleavage
|
No
|
Poor/Indistinct
|
Poor/Indistinct
|
Perfect
|
Fracture
|
Hackly
|
Uneven
|
Concoidal
|
Micaeous
|
Florescent
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Phosphorescent
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Sectile
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Malleable
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Brittle
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Elastic
|
Ferro-Magnetic
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Para-Magnetic.
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Non-Magnetic
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
Transparent
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
Translucent
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Opaque
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Mineral
|
Gold
|
Chalcopyrite
|
Iron Pyrite
|
Weathered Mica
|
As you can see from the chart gold has entirely different
characteristics then “fools gold.”
According to Mindat.org gold has a specific gravity ranging
from 16 to 19 depending on how pure it is.
Hardness is 2.5 to 3.
