Native gold. Sample of gold in its native mineral form. Gold (Au) is a transition metal element. It has a melting point of 1064 degrees Celsius. It is soft and the most malleable and ductile of all the metal elements, and can be beaten into very thin sheets. In sheet form it is used as gold leaf to gild ornaments and other objects. It is also used as a soldering material, in photography and electronics, and as a precious metal in jewellery.