Have you ever wondered what planet does gold come from? Where does gold come from in the universe and why is it such a popular metal here on earth? Keep reading and you will find out!
The Origin of Gold
Unlike most other metals that are part of the Earth’s crust, gold is believed to come from space. Stars are usually composed of hydrogen and helium, producing light. The nuclear fusion at the core of the star produces energy, and during the star’s death, a massive explosion occurs.
This explosion is known as a supernova. The collapsing star has so much pressure that protons and electrons are converted into neutrons. Since neutrons do not have a repelling charge, they are easily swallowed by other heavier elements like iron. As the iron gathers more neutrons, it leads to the formation of heavier elements.
So, how does so much gold end up on Earth? Planets are believed to form from a swell of dust and gas hurtling through space through a supernova. The gold particles are likely to have mixed up in the cloud of dirt, gas, and dust which formed Earth. A few billion years later, we can start to mine this precious metal and use it in different ways in our current civilization.
Gold is From The Stars
In simpler terms, gold was formed simultaneously as the earth was formed and has been at the planet’s center for many years. The stars dying exploded with so much force that they could transform iron into gold through the neutrons that were moving at high speed through space.
At this precise moment in our history, the formation of gold has formed the start and establishment of a civilization that has based most of its activity, trade, and transactions on precious metals. The death of the stars caused a lot of gold to be included in the dust and gas that formed Earth.
Gold was initially in the universe in the form of stars, but when the stars came to the end of their life, they exploded with so much force that they caused a lot of gold to be embedded into the core of earth.
Where Do We Find Gold on Earth?
The gold formed in the stars sank to the Earth’s core. Astronomical occurrences caused asteroids to strike the Earth, and as such, gold surfaced to the mantle and code. Today, gold is found in rock ores on most continents. Given that gold is a dense material, most of it sank to the bottom of the ocean.
Tectonic activities and earthquakes taking place over time have also enabled the gold deposits to form, and the shifting of faults has caused the gold to flow up through the cracks in volcanoes. The two largest known deposits of gold in the world are in South Africa and India.
Mining companies have been active in these places for many years, but they have not even come close to depleting the available resources in these areas. This is just one of the signs that gold is available in significant amounts on Earth. Even the much mined throughout civilization does not come close to what is available in different places around the Earth.
How Much Gold Is On Earth?
According to the World Gold Council, around 190,040 metric tons of gold have been mined all through the history of man. This much gold is worth around $7.5 trillion, and about 85% of all that gold is still in active circulation.
The outer layer of the Earth’s crust is believed to have about 1 million tons of gold. However, it is not established precisely how much gold is in the mantle and core of the Earth. People believe that it is more than the amount of gold on the crust of the Earth.
Honestly, there is more gold than has ever been mined in the history of man, and a lot of it is yet to be discovered. Gold is a dense material which means that it can manage to occupy less space, and this is one of the reasons many investors prefer it. A little gold can be carried easily but fetch a high price on the market.
Why People Love Gold
People throughout history have been using gold as a means of exchange and value preservation. It has been the standard against which modern currencies have been operating for years. For instance, gold has been used as the reserve for many currencies, and the amount of currency that was in circulation at any moment used to have an equivalent amount of gold.
The adaptable nature of this precious metal and its beauty makes it one of the elements that are in high demand. Gold is also scarce, and as such, it is more valuable than the other metals. It also tends to have additional properties not present in the other metals.
It does not lose its shine no matter how long it is stored and is highly malleable. You can pound it, bend it and form it into any shape you like with much ease. It is also heavily used in a lot of jewelry and has been used on crowns worn by Kings and Queens worldwide in a show of majesty and divine superiority.
Many Uses of Gold
Gold is also used as a conductor for electricity, and this means that computers and smartphones include gold in their many components. Gold does not corrode, which means that it has better properties that can last a long time and withstand the test of time and elements with much ease.
Gold is also regarded as a valuable asset and backs a lot of paper currencies. They are also used when making financial investments, and people usually open gold IRA accounts to invest better into their retirements.
It is also being used in aerospace research and exploration where space ships are getting coated with gold so that they do not get scorched up in the sun. It also tends to have lower shear strength, and as such, it is a great way to gain some traction in the vacuum of space. Now that you have an idea of where gold originates from, you will start to appreciate the many benefits and properties associated with this precious metal.
I hope you found this article on the origin of gold to be interesting and that you learned something new. If you have any questions, we will be more than happy to answer them below.
All the best,
Pete