Because gold forms few compounds, finding true gold ores is difficult. However, there are gold ores producing relatively small percentages of gold per pound that can be processed. A few examples are : nagyagite, calaverite, sylvanite and krennerite.
Gold forms few compounds. So, finding real gold ores is hard. Some gold ores less interesting to commercial gold miners can give you a bit of gold when processed. The most common compounds include: nagyagite, calaverite, sylvanite and krennerite.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color
Because gold forms few compounds, finding true gold ores is difficult. However, there are gold ores producing relatively small percentages of gold per pound that can be processed. A few examples are : nagyagite, calaverite, sylvanite and krennerite.
Gold forms few compounds. So, finding real gold ores is hard. Some gold ores less interesting to commercial gold miners can give you a bit of gold when processed. The most common compounds include: nagyagite, calaverite, sylvanite and krennerite.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is golden “butter” yellow.
Luster is metallic.
Transparency is opaque.
Crystal System is isometric; 4/m bar 3 2/m
Crystal Habits include massive nuggets and disseminated grains. Also wires, dendritic and arborescent crystal clusters.
Cleavage is absent.
Fracture is jagged.
Streak is golden yellow.
Hardness is 2.5 – 3
Specific Gravity is 19.3+ (extremely heavy even for metallic minerals)
Associated Minerals include quartz, nagyagite, calaverite, sylvanite, krennerite, pyrite and other sulfides.
Other Characteristics: ductile, malleable and sectile, meaning it can be pounded into other shapes, stretched into a wire and cut into slices.
Notable Occurrences include California and South Dakota, USA; Siberia, Russia; South Africa; Canada and other localities around the world.
Best Field Indicators are color, density, hardness, sectility, malleability and ductility.