Mineral - Gold
Gold
Chemical Properties
Mineral Class
Elements
Toxicity
none
Formula
Au
Unit Cell
a=4.08 Z=4
Physical Properties
Hardness
2.5 - 3
Streak
yellow
Density
Very Heavy (>6)
Cleavage
Fracture
hooked
Tenacity
Elastic-flexible
Optical Properties
Color
gold
Birefringence
Luster
Metallic
Transparency
opaque
Pleochroism
Geomineralogical Properties
Crystal System
isometric
Point Group
hexoctahedral - 4/m 3 2/m
Space Group
Fm 3 m (225)
Habit
leafy, dendritic, dodecahedron, Octahedron, skeletal, Cube
Formation
hydrothermal
Paragenesis
Twinning
Contact twins after {111}, Spinel-law
Rarity
Rather rare
Synonyms
Gold, Native Gold
Composition
Elements
Mass
Au
99.60
Cu
0.10
Ag
0.10
England (Palache et al. 1952)
Groups and Members
Copper-Group