Atlas of beach gold morphology variations around the South Island, New Zealand

ABSTRACT This atlas presents a set of typical detrital gold scanning electron microscope images for beach gold samples from around the South Island of New Zealand. Images are presented as general views of gold particles, and of detailed features on the surfaces of particles. The samples for the images were obtained from a wide variety of geological and coastal sedimentary settings. The aim of the atlas is to provide comparative imagery for workers on beach gold deposits elsewhere in New Zealand and around the world. This atlas is the first comprehensive set of images of beach gold published anywhere in the world. The beach gold is typically finely particulate (50–200 µm), but most beach gold retains morphology derived from deformation during fluvial transport to the beach from ultimate sources. However, wind‐sculpted toroidal gold is distinctive and widespread along Foveaux Strait beaches.