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Copper

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Silver

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Gold (Au)

24 Carrot?

Some of the world’s oldest metal artefacts are gold. It is instantly recognisable, by its shiny and gold colour. Most gold is used for jewellery, but the electronics industry is using increasing amounts for use in computers.

The occurrence of gold in Cornwall had been noted since the earliest times, but never in quantities sufficient enough to mine. Small grains of gold were often found in tin-stream works. The alluvial deposits in the valley below Ladock near Truro contained enough gold to make a necklace, and in 1808 a gold nugget weighing two ounces was found in the Carnon Valley tin streams. In 1912 at Levant mine (later to become part of Geevor) around four ounces of gold along with 5,278 ounces of silver were recovered from the copper ore.                                                                                                                

At Geevor small amounts of gold (1-3 parts per million) were found in the flotation residues. These were sold to various smelting works for their copper content. Any gold present was recovered with the copper and its value credited to Geevor.        

Data Panel: Gold Au
colour	Golden yellow
hardness	2.5-3a
Crystal system	Isometric
Crystal habit	Crystals are rare and tiny, typically cubic or octahedral
Lustre	Metallic
Streak	Golden yellow
Fracture	Hackly
Other characteristics	Ductile, malleable and sectile