Gold Characteristics occurrence in nature

Gold Characteristics occurrence in nature

It is interesting to note that gold is often alloyed with silver when it is found, but is also found in its original state. In fact, native gold on average has 8% to 10% silver in it. In some instances, you will find gold with over 20% silver content. In this instance, however, it is known as electrum when this occurs in nature. Usually the more silver that is found in gold the whiter the gold is. Due to this, it is often hard to find pure gold that has not been formed with other elements. In other instances, gold is able to be formed when other rare alloys come together but is not often formed this way.

Gold can often be found in veins near to the surface of the ground or when the elements of nature wash away the surrounding dirt and stone. Gold, although soft, is actually very strong and will outlast other elements during weathering. In other instances, gold is found in flake form or in small grains or nuggets. Grains and flakes once in rivers can be welded together by ventricular motion to form the nuggets that some individuals would later find which would eventually encourage the gold rush in the United States and Canada.

However, these kinds of nuggets were not often formed and this meant that few of the individuals who went searching for them could find them in nature. Gold is rare in nature, but it is often founded in veins together when it is located. This is why geologists are able to locate large deposits of gold together. The location of these deposits is usually in optimum areas where gold can be created and with a detailed geological survey these occurrence in nature can be located.