Native Elements

Native elements are those that occur in nature in uncombined form. These elements have a definite
internal atomic structure and therefore can be called as Native Element Minerals. Most common native
elements are Gold group elements, Platinum group elements, carbon and sulfer.

GOLD

Gold belongs to gold group of native elements along with silver and copper. Gold commonly
occurs with silver in alloy form.

Why is it Native? Gold has only one electron in its outer shell. So, it should react readily with
anions especially oxygen. But still it doesn’t. We have already discussed the reason behind this
in class.

PROPERTIES: Gold in its pure form is very soft. It has got hardness of 2.5 on Mohs’ scale of
hardness. Although soft, it is one of the densest elements in the Universe with a density of 19
g/cm3. This latter property makes extraction and mining of gold possible.

Gold is malleable, ductile and sectile (can be cut like cakes).

Malleable means that even small amount gold can be hammered and transformed into sheet
having very large area. Ductility of gold allows it to be beaten into long wires. These properties
along with its chemical stability make it one of the most useful elements in electronic
appliances like mobile phones and computer chips.

Native gold is golden yellow in color and gives yellow streak. Pyrite (fool’s gold) is also golden
yellow in color but it gives black streak.

OCCURRENCE: Gold is present in trace amounts almost everywhere on the globe. Gold of some
economic value can be found deep underground in association with quartz (Some of the mines
are in Africa and are as deep as 4 KM from the surface). Gold can also be found on stream and
river beds. Gold is usually associated with quartz. Quartz has specific gravity of around 2.7.
Gold on the other hand, because of its high specific gravity, cannot be carried for long distances
by rivers and streams with low energy. These low energy rivers can carry lighter elements and
minerals for a greater distance. Thereby separating gold from other minerals and thus making
its mining possible.

Use: Ornamental. Electronics. Medicine (ever heard of सुवर्णप्राशन?). Religious (more of a waste
than use) et cetera.
 CARBON

Native carbon occurs as a result of ‘Carbon only’ bonding. Where each carbon atom shares all 4
valence electrons with 4 other carbon atoms.

Native carbon occurs in two variants. High pressure variety: Diamond and Low pressure variety:
Graphite.

Graphite and Diamond both have exactly the same chemistry that is C. But structurally they are
different. Graphite has a structure that is suited for a low pressure conditions and therefore it is
very unstable at high pressure. On the other hand, Diamond has a cubic structure with tight
packing. This structure is very stable at ultra-high pressures of the mantle.

Although Diamond and Graphite are representation of native carbon, they have completely
different properties as a result of difference in their structure. Therefore, they must be dealt
with separately.

Diamond: Diamond is a well-known gem known for its brilliance. Please note that Diamond has
no brilliance in its raw form.

Properties: Diamond is the hardest natural substance (yet) and occupies number 10 spot in
Mohs’ scale of hardness. It has specific gravity of 3.5. It has high refractive index. Brilliance in
diamond is a result of its high RI. Its hardness makes diamond very useful in drilling.

Occurrence: High pressures that are needed for formation of diamond are impossible to
achieve naturally on the earth’s crust. Theoretically, pressures needed to form diamonds can be
achieved at the depth of 150 KM and below (MANTLE). But we still have diamonds on crust, on
our fingers embedded in a ring, or round the neck. How?

Diamonds are brought to the surface through fast moving magmas like Kimberlites that travel
from the mantle. Kimberlite carries everything that is in its path to the surface and sometimes
diamonds get trapped in it and are brought to the surface.

Diamonds are hard therefore they are chemically and physically stable. Thus get separated
from the host rock through a process that is similar to separation of gold.

India and Africa (especially South Africa) are rich in diamonds. In India, biggest deposits of
diamond are found in Panna in MP and in Andhra Pradesh. World famous Koh I Noor diamond
was recovered from AP.

Use: Drilling, Jewelry

 YELLOW DOTS ARE DIAMONDS

GRAPHITE: The other variety of Native Carbon is graphite. It is found much closer to the surface
and is a variety of coal. (Nota bene: Although coal is used in production of energy, Graphite is
useless for energy production.) When high quality coal undergoes high temperature conditions,
volatiles (H, N, O etc.) from it evaporate giving 100% carbon = graphite.

Occurrence: Graphite occurs alongside coal and can be mined from location close to coal mines.

Properties: Unlike diamond, graphite is very soft. On Mohs’ scale of hardness, its hardness
ranges from 1 to 2. Graphite has very high melting point that is in excess of 3000 oC. (In fact,
Graphite has no melting point and sublimates at around 4000oC.) Because of this property, it is
used as lining for Industrial ovens and blast furnaces.

Because of its low hardness which is lower than standard paper, it can be used as pencil. Its low
hardness and greasy smoothness enables it to be used as a dry lubricant. Carbon fiber is also
manufactured using graphite.

Use: Pencil, Refractory, Dry

lubricant, Batteries etc