Natural environment for gold? (7)
I believe the answer is:
element
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'natural environment' is the first definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'gold?' is the second definition.
(gold is a kind of element)
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for element that I've seen before include "Comfort zone" , "Constituent -- habitat" , "briefly identified by Al or Mo, among others" , "eg Fire, air" , "part of cooker" .)