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Gold has a few intrinsic properties that allow it to be differentiated from other metals or substances that look like gold. For instance, gold is pretty soft. It can be easily scratched or bent out of shape, while many minerals that look like gold, such as iron pyrite (fool's gold) are harder and not as easily scratched. Gold is also extremely ductile and can be shaped and molded easily. A hammer's blow will squish a gold nugget for example. On the other hand, other minerals (again such as iron pyrite) will not be easily shaped or molded, and if you hit it with a hammer, it will shatter on impact.

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17y ago

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