Thought to be from an Anglo-Saxon word, geld, for yellow.
Description and Occurrence Gold is one of the rarest and most
valuable minerals on Earth. It occurs as a native metal, which
means it can be found in an uncombined metallic form. It usually
formss in small grains or flakes. Nuggets can be found in
alluvial or glacial deposits. It rarely forms as crystals.
Gold's yellow color and brightness vary with the amount and type
of impurities in it. It's ideal for jewelry and ornamentation
because it's both malleable and durable. A shiny yellowish
mineral called Pyrite is often mistaken for gold. Don't be
fooled by this "fool's gold"! One third of the world's gold is
mined in South Africa. Other sources for gold are Australia,
Russia, and the United States. In 1869, gold was discovered at
Coleman Creek in the mountains on the eastern edge of San Diego
County. A gold-mining boom led to the settlement and growth of
the mining town of Julian, where artifacts of the gold rush era
can be seen at the Julian Pioneer Mu