How is gold formed?

Gold is one of the most valuable and sought-after metals on an international level. How exactly is gold formed? We examine the chemical and geological processes that create gold, as well as gold mining techniques, the locations where it is found, and the future of gold mining. Lastly, we provide insight into gold that originates from outside our Earth, namely from the stars.
 

Formation of gold in nature

Gold forms through complex geological processes that take millions of years. It is primarily found in ore deposits deep within the Earth's crust. These deposits form when aqueous solutions dissolve gold from deeper rocks and transport it.
 
When these hydrothermal fluids cool down, gold particles precipitate and form concentrated gold veins. Volcanic activity and plate tectonics play a crucial role in creating the conditions necessary for these processes.
 

Chemical processes involved in gold formation

The formation of gold in nature heavily depends on chemical processes such as hydrothermal activity and magmatic sources. Hydrothermal processes occur when hot water flows through cracks in the Earth's crust, dissolving metals, including gold. Gold veins form when these hydrothermal solutions precipitate.
 
This happens when the solutions come into contact with certain rock types or when they cool down. The concentration of gold in the Earth's crust can also be influenced by magmatic processes, where gold forms in the mantle and rises through magmatic intrusions.
 

Natural sources of gold

Gold is often found in riverbeds and alluvial deposits as a result of erosion and natural concentration processes. Gold-bearing rocks erode when exposed to weathering at the surface.
 
This releases gold particles, which are then carried away by streams and rivers. They settle in sediments where they concentrate due to their high density. These deposits, known as placer deposits or secondary deposits, are significant natural sources of gold.
 

Gold mining techniques

Gold mining techniques have significantly evolved over the centuries. In the past, gold was primarily extracted through panning in rivers and simple shaft mining.
 
Today, mining companies utilize advanced technologies such as open-pit mining, underground mining, and heap leaching to extract gold from ore. Once the gold is extracted, it is refined to remove impurities and obtain pure gold. Modern refining processes, such as smelting, electrolysis, and chemical extraction, ensure a high-quality end product.
 

The future of gold mining

The future of gold mining lies in making mining activities more sustainable to reduce ecological impact. Innovations such as the use of microorganisms to remediate environmental damage (bioremediation) and the use of renewable energy sources in mining operations can contribute to more sustainable practices.
 
Reducing the environmental impact and dependency on new gold mining in the future is important. This can be achieved by recycling gold from old jewelry and electronic waste, an area that is already gaining increased attention.
 

Formation of gold in stars

Gold is not only found on Earth. The formation of gold begins in space, during supernova explosions and the collisions of neutron stars. During these cosmic events, immense amounts of energy and neutrons are released.
 
This leads to the formation of heavy elements, such as gold. These elements spread through space and eventually become incorporated into newly formed planets and star systems, including our own solar system. This means that the gold found on our planet is cosmic dust that originated billions of years ago.
 
Disclaimer: The Silver Mountain does not provide investment advice, and this article should not be considered as such. Past performance is not indicative of future results.