How Is Gold Formed?

Throughout history, especially during the Middle Ages, scientists and alchemists aspired to convert regular lead into valuable gold. At the time, these alchemists faced rejection and were labeled as delusional for attempting to do the impossible. However, as time went on and we entered the era of modern technology, we were able to produce gold.

In this article, we will be looking into the origins of gold, the method of extracting and mining precious metal, the different ways we use this element today, and most importantly, the answer to the question – how is gold formed.

How Is Gold Formed and Where Does It Come From?

Gold is mined and extracted from the crust of the earth; however, what most people don’t know is that gold was created in the galaxy and eventually found its way to earth. The gold deposits found on earth were initially formed by the explosion of stars and the collision of asteroids.

According to scientists and astronomy experts, the explosion of stars, known as a supernova, produces intense pressure and heat, which results in protons and electrons combining to create neutrons. It is believed that during the formation of planets, the gold particles from exploded stars intertwined with the cosmic clouds and settled into deposits when the earth was created.

The gold that was created by the stars ended up being deposited in the earth’s core. Billions of years ago, when asteroids struck the earth, the gold deposits rose to the mantle and crust. Think of it this way, the asteroids destroyed all dinosaurs, but in return, we got gold.

Where Can We Find Gold?

Almost all the continents on earth have gold deposits in rock ores. Gold has a high density, meaning that most of these deposits sank to the bottom of the oceans. According to research, there are approximately 20 million pounds of gold in the sea beds.

Gold deposits can be formed after a major earthquake too. As the layers of the crust shift, the mineral-rich water decompresses. Once the water evaporates, strips of gold and quartz become visible on rocky surfaces. A similar process takes place in volcanoes, and gold can be found in solidified lava. The largest gold deposits in the world can be found in South Africa and India.

Quantity of Gold Available on Earth

According to World Gold Council, approximately 190,040 metric tons of gold have been mined from the earth throughout history. The value of this gold stands at around $7.5 trillion, and 85% of this gold is in circulation. Experts believe that about 1 million tons of gold are still present in the outer layer of the crust. However, we are still unsure of how much gold is present in the mantle and core of the earth. Intuitively, the gold present in the deeper layers is much more than the amount present on the outer crust.

How Has Gold Gained Popularity?

Gold is one of the most precious metals found on earth, and it is one of the 118 elements that have been discovered by humans so far. Pure gold is a light yellow, a soft substance that cannot be used for everyday wear unless mixed with other metals such as silver, copper, platinum, and zinc.

Gold has been considered a symbol of power and wealth ever since early civilizations discovered this precious metal. The ancient Aztec community thought of gold as God’s excrement. Over time and through the introduction of modern technology, gold has occupied the position of one of the most important resources on the planet.

Gold tends to have a higher value because of its scarcity. It also possesses certain qualities and characteristics that other metals don’t have, which is that it is incredibly malleable and doesn’t tarnish at all.

Gold has been used to signify wealth and power since the time Kings and Queens ruled the world. Even today, people wear gold jewelry to flaunt their status. Till the early 1960s, western economies used a fixed amount of gold to determine the value of a country’s currency.

Gold comes with several practical uses as well – it can be used as a conductor for electricity and a source of power for computers and other electronic devices.

Different Uses of Gold

Gold is an important resource in the world of finance. Due to its scarcity, it is considered a valuable asset. When the world was moving toward building economies based on paper currencies, gold was used to exchange value for money. To this day, gold is used as an asset people hold for investment. Since it is a scarce resource, the value increases the longer you keep a hold of it.

One of the more practical uses of gold can be found in modern technology. It is used for manufacturing electronic products and is commonly found in wiring and switches. The majority of electronic devices found today contain elements of gold. It can be found in mobile phones, GPS, calculators, computers, and even kitchen appliances.

Gold is used for medical purposes, too. The particles can help diagnose HIV and AIDS, and medical researchers are trying to incorporate gold into medical treatments to help fight these diseases.

Our Final Thoughts

The question – how is gold formed – leads us down a rabbit hole of interesting bits of research. From its formation in supernovas to finding itself coming up to the surface of the earth by way of asteroids, gold has had an interesting part to play in the earth’s history.

Kings and queens adorned themselves with gold and jewels to showcase their superiority. At the turn of the 21st century, gold became an important metal that determined the value of each country’s currency and became an important resource of value.

In the modern day, it is used for fashion, is valuable asset, has multiple uses in technology, and it is also used in medical procedures as well, such as treating rheumatoid arthritis and certain cancers.