The morphological changes that gold undergoes during transport in
gravel-bed rivers are a function of transport distance in particular, as well as
bedload material, river gradient and velocity, and bed roughness. Gold size,
shape and outline are modified by abrasion, flattening, folding and breakage
during transport. The resultant morphological characteristics can be used to
predict source types, source location and transport distance, as well as the
origin and dispersal patterns of gold in ancient placers where the transport
history is unknown.