Throughout history, gold has been prized around the world and eagerly sought. But where does it come from, and where does it all go? By Neil Savage.
Where does gold come from?
Gold in perspective
Gold production pales in comparison to that of other technologically important minerals
The physics of gold
Electrons orbit the nucleus at half the speed of light, relativistically shrinking the highest-energy (6s) orbital in a way that accounts for gold’s chemical stability and hue.
Worldwide demand for gold in 2011
Gold is mostly required for jewellery, technology and money.
Precious commodity
The price of gold, long set by governments, remained steady from the early eighteenth century well into the twentieth century
Golden milestones
Key moments in the use of the precious metal in science and technology
Change history
18 March 2013
The map "Where does gold come from?" originally presented world gold production figures in kilograms but with the label of tonnes. Values in tonnes are now correct.
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Savage, N. Resources: Mine, all mine!. Nature 495, S2–S3 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/495S2a
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/495S2a
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