Gold is a highly prized precious metal used in numerous aspects of life. Gold is used in jewelry, money, medals, and other honorary objects. It is used in both dentistry and electronics because of its great conductibility. Gold is usually found in small grains but can also be found in nuggets, or small stones of clumped gold. Gold is mainly found in igneous rocks and other surface rocks. In the deposits, gold is in its native form and just needs to be compacted with other fragments of gold. On the scientific reference table, gold is referred to as AU, derived from the Latin word, aurum. Since gold is very soft by itself, when it is used in jewelry and coins, it is first mixed with other harder metals.

What are some characteristics of gold?
Gold is the most malleable and ductile of all metals. In other words, it is able to be stretched and molded into any shape or size. A single gram of gold can be stretched and molded into a square 5 meter sheet. Since gold is so soft, it is usually alloyed, or mixed with other metals. Some of these harder metals include silver, copper or platinum. Gold is also a very good conductor of heat and electricity. For this reason, gold is very often used in power lines and other electrical cords. In addition to being a good conductor, gold does not tarnish when exposed. Because gold is also a good reflector of infrared radiation it is often used as a shield to protect buildings and spacecrafts from infrared light.

How is the price of gold measured?
The price of hold is measured in carats, or the amount of gold present. A 24 carat piece of gold is used to indicate pure gold. All values less than 24 carats signify a less pure piece of gold. As the carat rating goes up, so does price. For example, a 24 carat gold bracelet would cost more than a 16 carat bracelet.