Gold is a yellow metal that is soft and dense. As a precious metal, it has been used for jewellery and money by people all over the world for many thousands of years. Gold is significant because it is both rare and easier to use than other rare metals. It is commonly found in mines. As a result, it is referred to as a mineral substance. It can also be found in riverbeds. So here are 28 Interesting facts about Gold.
- The earlier name of gold was aurum, which was derived from Latin.
- The atomic number for gold is 79, and its atomic mass is 196.96. It is very ductile and malleable. Gold is also a good conductor of both heat and electricity. It dissolves in alkaline solutions of potassium or sodium cyanide.
- Gold is the only metal on the planet that is golden in colour in its natural form.
- In natural form, gold is found deep in different layers of the earth surface, where it is carried by water, molten lava, volcanic eruption and earthquakes.
- Scientists from all over the globe, led by Arizona University, researched that around 40 per cent of the gold present in the world is about 3 billion years old.
- When humans first began mining gold, the precise date is unknown, but some of the oldest known gold artefacts were discovered in Bulgaria’s Varna Necropolis. The necropolis’ graves were constructed between 4700 and 4200 BC, indicating that gold mining could be at least 7000 years old.
- Scientists believe that gold on earth was formed by neutron star collisions and supernovae that occurred before the formation of our solar system. Gold was formed during the r-process and sank into the planet’s core. It is now accessible only because of the asteroid bombardment that happened when our world was in the development phase.
- The biggest gold nugget ever found was found at Moliagul, Victoria, Australia, in 1869 by John Deason and Richard Oates. It weighed gross, over 2,520 troy ounces (78 kg; 173 lb) and returned over 2,284 troy ounces (71.0 kg; 156.6 lb) net.
- China has been the biggest producer of this precious metal for many years, accounting for around 11 per cent of the total output in the world. Australia is the second biggest producer of gold while Russia is on 3rd biggest producer.
- Muruntau mine of Uzbekistan is the biggest gold mine globally, with a production of 2 thousand ounces. The second highest is Carlin Trend, with a production of 1665 thousand ounces. Olimpiada mine of Russia is in the third spot in terms of gold mine production.
- The United States have the highest gold reserves of any other country on planet earth. The country has a holding of about 8,133.5 metric tonnes, which accounts 65.6 % share of forex reserves. Germany is the second on the list with 3359.1 metric tonnes of gold.
- The Macassa gold mine in Kirkland Lake, Canada, is the world’s richest gold mine (based on the most recent estimation of gold grade in reserves). It’s been estimated that it contains more than 1,000,000 ounces of gold in it.
- Gold is an extremely ductile and malleable metal, which means it can be drawn into the thinnest wire. One ounce of gold can be drawn into 80 kilometers (50 miles) of five microns, or five-millionths of a meter, thick gold wire can be made of it.
- The gold chain, known as the ‘Dubai Celebration Chain,’ is 5 kilometers long and the longest in the world. It weighs no less than 240 kilograms and contains over 4 million links, which were created by 100 artisans over 45 days.
- A gold karat is 1/24 of the total or 4.1667 per cent, and the purity of a gold alloy is expressed as the number of these parts of gold it contains. Thus, 16-karat gold comprises 16 parts gold and eight parts alloying metal, whereas 24-karat gold is the purest form of gold.
- In August 2020, gold reached its all-time high with a price of 1974 (USD/t.oz).
- Gold will never tarnish, rust, or corrode. Gold is the most essential and popular metal in jewellery making because of its wonderful qualities and lustre. Because pure gold is too soft for everyday use, it is alloyed with a mixture of other metals to make it harder so that it can be used for jewellery.
- The best estimates currently available suggest that approximately 197,576 tonnes of gold have been mined throughout history, with approximately two-thirds mined since 1950. And, because gold is virtually indestructible, almost all of it is still present in some form or another.
- The underground gold reserves are currently estimated to be around 50,000 tonnes, according to the US Geological Survey.
- The boiling point of gold is about 2,700 °C, while 1064°C is its melting point.
- Homemakers in rural India own more than 11% of the world’s gold reserves. For centuries, the precious yellow metal has been regarded as a symbol of prosperity in the country’s culture. As a result, over 21,000 tonnes of gold are worn on the bodies of Indian women.
- A one-ounce (approximately 31 grammes) gold nugget is tougher to obtain than a 5-carat diamond. That is also why gold nuggets are prized by collectors and are valued significantly more than the international gold standard.
- The Emirate of Dubai is the best country in the world to buy gold.
- The world’s most extensive gold bar weighs 250 kg (551 lb) and measures 455 mm 225 mm (17.9 in 8.9 in) at the base and 170 mm (6.7 in) at the top, with a 5-degree draught angle. Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, a Mitsubishi subsidiary based in Japan, manufactured it.
- Newmont Goldcorp of the United States is the biggest trader of gold In the world.
- Our oceans contain around 20 million tonnes of gold floating in regular salt water, which is evaluated by the National Ocean Service.
- According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the world’s largest gold ring, Najmat Taiba (Star of Taiba), is on exhibit at Sahara Centre in Sharjah. The 64-kilogram behemoth is studded with more than 5kg of diamonds and other valuable stones, as well as 615 Swarovski crystals, and weighs 21 carats.
- The global market for gold is expected to reach $189.6 billion by 2022 from $163.9 billion in 2017 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.0% from 2017 to 2022.
