Much of the Gold mined is from large mining operations where the Gold is smeltered for commercial use, and although many commercial gold mines exist, mineral specimens and crystals are hard to come across. It is used in photography, dentistry, coloring, and is currently being studied for cancer treatments. The karat measurement determines the percentage of gold to other metals on a scale of 1 to 24, with 24 karats being pure gold.ĭue to gold's distinctive properties as a metal, it has several industrial uses. The purity of the gold based on the alloyed metal is measured in karat weight. This makes it more durable and practical for ornamental use. Nowadays, the main use of gold is for jewelry.Īs pure gold is easily bent and dented, it is always alloyed with other metals when used in jewelry. Gold has been used for coinage throughout the centuries, and is currently accepted internationally as a standard value. Especially noteworthy are the golden ornaments from the tombs of the Pharaohs in Egypt, where gold masks, statues, coins, and much jewelry was archeologically excavated. Many exotic gold ornaments from the past have been found. This is due to its resistance, beauty, rareness, and the fact that it is very easy to work with. Gold has been used as a precious metal throughout the history of mankind. In Quartz veins and high temperature hydrothermal deposits, as well as placer deposits. Golden-yellow color, extreme heaviness, lack of tarnish, and malleability and ductility Spinel twinning in groups of small crystals is well-known habit. Crystals are often stacked into elongated groups, and may form in lines or patterns, especially in herringbone formation. Dendrites, wires, nuggets, encrustations, and small flakes are the more common forms. Octahedral, dodecahedral, and cubic crystals occur, as well as combinations of these forms, but they are uncommon and are often distorted.
Gold, with small amounts of silver sometimes also copper and iron Such Gold is known as "Roasted Gold", and is occasionally sold to collectors.įor additional information, see the gemstone section on Gold. In certain localities, minerals that contain these sulfides are heated high enough for the sulfides to dissolve, enabling the Gold to remain intact on the matrix. Gold is usually associated with Pyrite and other sulfides, and sometimes may not be noticed because of the association with these resembling minerals. This adds on to the uniqueness and allure of this mineral. It won't tarnish, discolor, crumble, or be affected by most solvents. Gold is also one of the most resistant metals. (28 gram) mass can stretch out to a distance of over 50 miles (75 kilometers). Gold is also the most malleable and ductile substance known. In addition, it can be easily separated from other substances due to the weight differences. Due to its weight, it can be panned because the Gold sinks to the bottom. When pure, it has a specific gravity of 19.3. Other nuggets also get caught in the same area, forming a placer deposit.
The Gold eventually settles at the bottom of the water, and due to its heaviness remains there. The flowing water tumbles the Gold, giving it its distinct rounded shape. Gold nuggets, a popular form of Gold with collectors, are formed when erosion causes a large piece of Gold to separate from its mother rock, and then gets carried into a stream or river. To extract the gold, the ore is crushed, then the gold is separated from the ore by various methods. The ore is often brown, iron-stained rock or massive white Quartz, and usually contains only minute traces of gold. Much of the gold mined is actually from gold ore rather then actual Gold specimens. The color of pure Gold is bright golden yellow, but the greater the silver content, the whiter its color is. A Gold nugget is usually 70 to 95 percent gold, and the remainder mostly silver. Gold in its natural mineral form almost always has traces of silver, and may also contain traces of copper and iron. Only recently have more specimens been available to collectors, as more miners have been saving some of the larger pieces for the collectors market. Nice specimens, therefore, are regarded very highly, and are worth much more than the standard gold value. Most of the natural Gold specimens that have been found since early times have been smelted for production. Gold is one of the most popular and well-known minerals, known for its value and special properties since the earliest of time.
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