2007-09-20 03:18:44 · 5 answers · asked by Felix C 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Gold in well-formed crystals is extremely rare. Most specimens of naturally crystallized gold consist of threads, wires, arborescent forms, and leaves. More or less ideal single crystals of gold are rare and never large--usually 2 cm or less.
It is also possible to make gold crystals in the laboratory using a slow electro-refining process.
2007-09-20 16:30:20 · answer #1 · answered by Metallic stuff 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Gold crystals do occur in nature but are rare. the crystal shape is cubic ( like two pyramids placed base to base)
I have three in my collection each about 3mm on a side.
2007-09-20 10:45:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is golden "butter" yellow.
Luster is metallic.
Transparency is opaque.
Crystal System is (cubic) 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.
2007-09-20 10:36:44 · answer #3 · answered by Kristenite’s Back! 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
isometric (cubic) crystals . just in case anyone is confused by the apparent discrepency in the first two answers. i'd love to see one.
2007-09-20 12:02:11 · answer #4 · answered by deva 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yep.
2007-09-20 10:26:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋