Importing Raw Gold

[Harju]

Has anyone had experience importing raw gold? My spouse will receive some gold from her mother in Korea to bring to Canada. She is a PR now so it is not on landing. The gold is not a coin, bar/wafer and I do not think it can be considered jewellery. It is more just like a button shaped lump of gold with no stampings or markings. She thinks it is worth about $3,000. Although, she says it is about half the size of her fist so I think maybe more.

We would declare it but I wonder about duties/tariffs and concerned about the legality of bringing back a "lump" of gold with no official markings or stampings. Unfortunately she is transiting through the US also.

Thanks.