According to My Gold Panning, gold is found throughout the Earth, generally inside quartz veins located in rock and granite. Most gold has eroded, and it is often located in crevices in the rocks.
Gold is a solid at room temperature and is classified as a metal. It is the most malleable of all known metals, and it is a good conductor of electricity. Gold does not tarnish when exposed to air. Pure gold is commonly alloyed with silver, copper, platinum or palladium. It is used to make jewelry, coins, decorative items and dental fillings. The amount of gold in an object is measured by a unit known as a carat.