Identification guide · Native Elements
How to Identify Gold
Gold is usually gold and yellow with a metallic luster and is opaque. It has a Mohs hardness of 2.5. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not. Its streak is golden yellow. It is most often confused with Silver, Chalcopyrite, and Pyrite; the tests below separate them.
Gold identification checklist
| Color | Gold, Yellow | Look at a clean, dry surface in daylight. Color zoning, banding or spots are as diagnostic as the hue. |
|---|---|---|
| Luster | Metallic | Turn it under a lamp: a true metallic shine reflects like polished metal and stays opaque at thin edges. |
| Transparency | Opaque | Hold a thin edge up to a bright light and note whether light passes through. |
| Mohs hardness | 2.5 | A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not. |
| Streak | Golden yellow | Drag a corner across unglazed porcelain (the back of a bathroom tile) and check the powder color. |
| Cleavage | None | |
| Fracture | Hackly | |
| Specific gravity | 19.3 | Very heavy, metallic heft (specific gravity about 19.3). |
| Crystal system | Cubic |
Gold look-alikes and how to tell them apart
Both sit near Mohs 2.5, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Gold vs Silver →
Chalcopyrite is harder (Mohs 3.5–4) than Gold (Mohs 2.5), so Chalcopyrite will scratch Gold and not the other way round. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not. Gold vs Chalcopyrite →
Pyrite is harder (Mohs 6.5) than Gold (Mohs 2.5), so Pyrite will scratch Gold and not the other way round. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not. Gold vs Pyrite →
Both sit near Mohs 2.5, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Gold vs Copper →
Field tips
- Look for metallic yellow color that does not tarnish, hackly fracture, and unusually high density for its size.
- Gold is ductile and malleable rather than brittle; suspected specimens should flatten instead of shattering.
- Confirm expensive or unusual specimens with provenance, density checks, and a qualified assay when needed.
Gold identification FAQ
How can you tell if a rock is Gold?
Check the color (gold and yellow), the metallic luster, a Mohs hardness of 2.5 and a golden yellow streak. Photographing it with the StoneSnap app gives a match in seconds.
What is the hardness of Gold?
Gold has a Mohs hardness of 2.5. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not.
What is the difference between Gold and Silver?
Gold (Mohs 2.5, metallic luster) and Silver (Mohs 2.75, metallic luster) look alike, but hardness, streak and heft usually separate them. See the full Gold vs Silver comparison for a side-by-side table.
Is Gold worth anything?
Entry-level Gold specimens sell for around $50, typical collector pieces about $1200, and premium examples $10000 or more depending on size, quality and locality.
What color is Gold?
Gold is most often gold and yellow. Color varies with impurities and locality, so confirm with hardness and luster rather than color alone.
