GoldPaq

What do you know about gold?

Everyone knows gold when they see it, but how much do you really know about the element itself?

Learn a Little

We decided that if our customers want to sell gold to us, they might want to learn a little about the topic too.

Elemental Gold

Element: Au
Atomic number: 79
Color: Golden yellow
Luster: Metallic
Specific gravity: 19.3+
crystal habits:

• Massive nuggets
• Disseminated grains
• Wires
• Dendritic crystal clusters
• Arborescent crystal clusters

Practical Gold

Gold is a stubborn element which is almost indestructible and prized by many cultures because of its ability to be refined back to its purest form.

The simple fact of its stubborn nature lends pure gold an intrinsic value that forms the basis for both monetary systems and temperature scales alike.

Monetary systems across the globe are deeply rooted in the value of gold.

Although very few nations still use the gold standard, it is understood that because of its basic value and the finite amount in existence, gold will always be worth money.

International Temperature Scale

The calibration point of both the International Temperature Scale and the International Practical Temperature Scale is based on the unwavering melting point of gold.

These standards are used worldwide and are in place forever.

Quick Facts

• Pure gold never tarnishes and cannot be destroyed
• Natural specimens are worth more than processed gold
• 80% of gold on the planet is still in the ground
• Nuggets of gold up to 200 pounds have been found
• Gold can conduct electricity and heat
• Native Scottish gold is the purest from the ground
• Gold is the most malleable metal
• Prospectors look for pyrite and quartz to indicate gold ore
• Pure gold is measured in troy weight
• Alloys are measured in karats

The Many Colors of Gold

Through the alloy process the color of gold can be changed from a rich purple to a deep chocolate brown. Some of this is accomplished through dilution with a variety of metals, others are achieved by applying chemicals which change the color of its surface.

* Gold Bullion Bars are pure gold and cannot be found in these colors, they are for illustration purposes only

Each different color alloy is produced by adding a specific metal or chemical to pure gold.

Yellow Gold

When people think of gold, generally they think of the buttery yellow shade of the real deal.

Pure gold is yellow gold, and often it is alloyed with a small percentage of copper or silver for their hardness properties.

Varying degrees of added metals create a variety of yellow shades and purity levels.

White gold

There are three different white gold alloys

Nickel / Gold - Nickel used to be a popular metal in costume jewelry. However many people have an allergy to it and form a rash when it touches their skin. Because of this the use of Nickel has declined.
Palladium / Gold - Palladium has become a far more suitable option for white gold, and it is often found in connection with platinum in its raw form.
Platinum / Gold - Due to the high value of platinum this white gold alloy is both rare and costly.

Rose Gold

Rose gold is also known as red, pink and Black Hills gold, (after a town in SD legendary for their rose gold jewelry).

Popular in the early 20th century this color is often found in pieces from that period, especially engagement rings and wedding bands.

Pink gold is achieved by adding copper and can vary in shade according to how much copper is added to the alloy.

Green Gold

This is a simple Gold / Silver alloy which is sometimes enhanced with nickel and zinc for durability in rings.

Green gold is not actually green, but more of green tinged yellow in color.

Its green color is noticed the most when set with other colors of gold, especially yellow and rose.

Purple gold

Also considered amethyst or violet gold, this is a Gold / Aluminum alloy.

An alloy that retains 18 karat gold, it is made using a specific ratio of gold to aluminum and the result is a lovely shade of amethyst.

Purple gold is an intermetallic compound, which means that to achieve the color gold becomes brittle and more inclined to tarnish

Blue Gold

Created through an inter-metallic compound between gold and indium.

This alloy is then heated to a specific temperature for a certain amount of time and then cooled to achieve the blue color.

Like purple gold, this alloy sacrifices some of the malleability and tarnish-resistant properties of gold in less processed forms.

Chocolate Gold

This color actually starts out as a rose gold or a Gold / Copper alloy.

The rose gold is then electronically bombarded which changes its surface color to a rich, chocolate brown.

Chocolate gold is rather rare and is developed by different goldsmiths to create different shades, often given names like “Browny Brown Gold”.

Black gold

There are several methods for achieving a black colored gold:

• Electro-deposition using black rhodium or runthenium
• Controlled oxidation of gold containing cobalt or chromium
• Plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition process using amorphous carbon

Know Your Fools Gold

Called fools gold because you’d have to be a fool to believe it is the real deal, there are several metallic rocks that can be mistaken for the mother lode.

Pyrite

Also known as iron sulfide, this rock is the most common sulfide mineral worldwide. It is associated with the presence of gold and is probably most often misunderstood for the real thing.

There are several ways to recognize pyrite

Pale to brassy yellow in color

Harder and more brittle than gold

Crystals can form almost perfect cubes

Because of its high iron content, it gives off sparks when struck with a metal object

Chalcopyrite

Image from Irocks
Also known as copper pyrite, chalcopyrite is often used to make costume jewelry. This mineral is the principle ore of copper and commonly found worldwide.

A few ways to help recognize chalcopyrite

• Honey to brass yellow in color
• Harder and more brittle than gold
• Tarnishes in iridescent hues

Marcasite

Image from Irocks
This iron sulfide is often confused with pyrite and shares the same chemistry. Like the two fools above, this mineral is common worldwide.

Marcasite jewelry is falsely named and isn’t marcasite at all, is actually made with crystals of its hardier cousin pyrite.

How to recognize marcasite

• Metallic brassy yellow
• Harder and more brittle than gold
• Can smell like sulfur
• Crystals form in a twinned habit called “cock’s comb” and look like a roosters head crest

What’s Next?

Now that you have a firm understanding of the basics, get to work. There is much to be done before you can get rich as a big time gold buyer.

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