If it's yellow, heavy and malleable (spreads when pounded with a hammer instead of crushing) and ductile (stretches or draws out into thin wire without breaking) then it is probably gold. Gold doesn't combine with other elements too often, so it will usually be found in pure examples. Gold naturally occurs with pyrite (iron sulfide, FeS₂) and arsenopyrite (iron arsenic sulfide, FeAsS) in lode deposits, which means in veins or deposited in fissures of adjoining rock. Pyrite and chalcopyrite are very often mistaken for gold but are lighter in weight and more brittle, pulverizing to powder when hammered. Gold's name is believed to be Anglo-Saxon, but it's uncertain where it originated.

The atomic symbol for gold is Au, and its atomic number is 79 with an atomic weight of 196.967. Gold will melt at a temperature of 1063� C(1945.4 degrees F, converted). Gold's specific gravity is between 15.6 to 19.3, with a hardness between 2.5 and 3. Gold has traditionally been found in clastic placer sedimentary deposits, from a source in igneous rock in veins and hydrothermal replacement deposits. Is this too technical? If so, see the glossary.

1 grain = .0648 grams 24 grains = 1 pennyweight (DWT) 1 DWT = 1.5552 grams 20 DWT = 1 ounce 1 ounce = 31.1 grams 12 ounces = 1 troy pound 1 troy pound = 5760 grains 5760 grains = 373.24 grams

Pure Gold is 1.000 Fine Commercial Gold is .999 Fine 24 Karat = 100% gold 18 Karat = 75% gold 14 Karat = 58% gold 10 Karat = 42% gold U.S. Gold Coins are .9166 Fine (22 Karat)

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