GOLD Glossary
- alloy
- A mixture of two elements, at least one of which is a metal, which form a new metal with desired properties.
- atom
- The smallest unit of an element that retains its properties.
- conductivity
- The ability of a mineral to transmit heat, electricity, or sound.
- compound
- A naturally-occurring combination of two or more elements in a specific ratio. Compounds need a chemical change to separate into their constituent parts.
- corrosion
- Gradual chemical destruction of a mineral. Corrosion often, but not always, operates through oxidation. Tarnish is a form of corrosion.
- crystal
- A unit of a mineral that has a symmetrical shape with flat, angled surfaces. The shape arises from an orderly arrangement of the mineral's atoms. Crystals can aggregate to form distinctive overall shapes.
- density
- The average mass per unit volume of a substance.
- deposit (mineral)
- A natural concentration of a mineral in Earth's crust.
- ductility
- The ability of a mineral to be pulled into wire.
- element (chemical)
- A substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. Elements are composed of a single kind of atom.
- fineness
- A measure of the amount of pure gold in a metal, in parts per thousand.
- gold standard
- A system in which currency can be redeemed for a fixed amount of gold. The bank or government must have enough gold in reserve to redeem all its circulating currency.
- karat
- A measure of the amount of pure gold in a metal. One karat is 1/24th of the total weight of the object. 100 percent pure gold is 24 karats.
- luster
- The manner in which a mineral reflects light.
- hardness
- A measure of how hard or soft a mineral is relative to diamond, the hardest mineral on the 10-point Mohs scale of hardness.
- hydrothermal fluids
- Hot water, steam, and gases trapped in fractured or porous rocks underneath Earth's surface.
- malleability
- A mineral's ability to be hammered into thin sheets.
- mass
- A measure of the total amount of matter in a body.
- metal
- A class of elements that have characteristic physical properties. Metals are generally good conductors, and are reflective, malleable, and ductile.
- mineral
- A solid substance with a crystal structure that formed via geologic processes. Minerals can be either elements or compounds.
- mixture
- A combination of two substances that can be separated by a physical change.
- native element
- The pure or nearly pure form of an element found in nature.
- nugget
- A lump of gold found in nature.
- ore
- Rock from which valuable minerals can be extracted.
- oxidation
- To become chemically combined with oxygen.
- placer
- A deposit of valuable minerals in a lake-, river-, or seabed.
- rock
- Any naturally occurring combination of one or more minerals.
- tarnish
- To dull the luster of a mineral by exposure to air or dirt. Tarnish is a form of corrosion.
- vein
- A mineral deposit in a fracture in the Earth.
- volume
- The amount of space occupied by a three-dimensional object or region of space.