Gold is among the rarest metals on the planet and even in the universe. It is so rare that many men and women have made it their life’s work to become gold diggers who sit at the forefront of humanity, leading the way in exploring this precious metal and its alloys. Yeah! Just kidding. No offense to the diggers out there.
Gold, or as it’s called in Latin, aurum, is the 79th element of the periodic table. Its discovery opened a new era for humanity as it led to the creation of economic systems that depended on trading commodities and services based on the price of precious metals. Even with its popularity, there is so much obscurity surrounding the metal. Today, we will dive into the secrets of this element as we explore 10 unbelievable gold facts you might have never known. So, adorn yourselves with your finest jewelry, and let’s begin.
Key Takeaways
- For millennia, humans adorned themselves with gold to prove their wealth in society.
- However, some facts and secrets about the precious metal are worth exploring.
Flash Facts
| Name | Gold |
| Latin Name | Aurum |
| Symbol | Au |
| Atomic Number | 79 |
| Atomic Weight Ar° | 196.966570±0.000004 |
| Number of Isotopes | 41 |
| Atomic Radius | 144 pm (Picometers) |
| Group | Group 11 |
| Period | Period 6 |
| Block | d-block |
| Melting Point | 2970 °C (3243 K, 5378 °F) |
| Boiling Point | 1064.18 °C (1337.33 K, 1947.52 °F) |
| Density | 19.283 g/cm3 (Solid), 17.31 g/cm3 (At Melting Point) |
| Highest Producer | China (370 Metric Tons 2023) |
| Largest Reserve | United States of America (8000 metric tons) |
Year of Discovery: There is no fixed year for Gold’s discovery. Some believe it was founded in the Middle East around 6000 BCE.
Type of Element: Transition Metal.
Prevalence on Earth: 0.004 ppm (Rare Metal).
Radioactivity Status: Radioactive with only one stable isotope: 197Au.
It’s Super Rare
Throughout history, gold has been a precious metal with insane value. Many people may believe this is due to its luster, but they’d be wrong. It’s valuable because it’s one of the rarest metals on Earth and in the universe.
Gold is so rare on Earth that if you were to mine through about 7,087,380 kilograms (15,624,998 pounds) of rocks and sand, you’d only get a measly 28 grams. That’s worse than trying to find a needle in a haystack.
No wonder gold diggers are going out of business.
Also, it’s so rare that if the amount mined on Earth is combined, it would only fit into a cube with 22-meter sides. That’s so underwhelming, right?
Well, now you know why nations and countries fight over it.
It Is A Noble Metal
A noble metal is resistant to corrosion and occurs naturally in nature. Gold is one of only eight metals that belong to this class. It is non-reactive with most solutions and would only dissolve in aqua regia, a concentrated solution of nitric (aqua fortis) and hydrochloric (muriatic) acid.
The metal exists in nature as nuggets and grains inside rocks and alluvial deposits. Its resistance to reactivity and corrosion makes it one of the most crucial metals for space exploration.
Rose Gold and Fiber Lasers
Lasers are a marvel of science and engineering. Their invention has opened the doors for many extensive medical, scientific, and engineering projects.
Among the innovations of laser technology are fiber lasers. They are unique because they can exist in different wavelengths and are smaller and more efficient than others. There’s been a race to improve the efficiency of fiber lasers. Many scientists have put forward metals and techniques, but one seems to stand out: rose gold.
Recently, a study showed that rose gold particles were a promising candidate for improving the efficiency of fiber lasers. The experiment showed that using these particles as a saturable absorber in the fiber laser cavity improved the overall output and reduced the power consumption of the laser. With this discovery, laser technology inches closer to maximum efficiency.
To learn more about the study, click here.
Allergies
There are many allergies in the world. Some people can’t eat peanuts, others can’t take milk without landing in the hospital, and some can’t stand animals like cats and dogs.
However, deeper into the allergy iceberg are bizarre medical conditions involving weird substances.
A metal like gold is non-reactive; this means it shouldn’t affect a person’s body if they hold it. Sadly, some people lost the lottery as they are allergic to it.
Gold allergy is a type IV hypersensitive reaction. It causes the skin to redden, leading to rashes and itching, ranging from mild to severe reactions; women are the highest victims.
The Insane Process of Mining
Gold mining and processing is one of the most difficult in the world. Many people think that because the metal exists naturally, it should be easy to get. However, that’s far from the truth, as to get it from the ground, a company has to plan and use heavy machinery and complex processes.
It can take between 10 and 20 years to discover a potential source and mine the metal; this is because companies have to plan for the type they want to mine, and the fluctuation of the metal’s value can influence production.
Newmont, located in the United States of America, is currently the largest gold company in the world. It has an estimated net worth of 59 billion dollars.
The Tale of The Pepita Canaã
In 1983, Júlio de Deus Filho made a shocking discovery that would make him an overnight superstar. He found a gold nugget in the Serra Pelada region of Brazil. Upon weighing, he learned it contained about 52.33 kilograms of pure gold.
When everyone learned of the discovery, Júlio became famous as people wanted to see the Pepita Canaã.
Eventually, the Central Bank of Brazil bought the approximately 10-million-dollar nugget for 4.4 million cruzeiros (1 million dollars then) and put it in the Museum of Values (Museu de Valores).
Largest Producer
If anyone asked you who you thought the largest gold producer in the world was, what would be your answer? It would be most likely South Africa or the United States, right?
Well, you’d be wrong, as in 2023, China was the largest gold producer on the planet. They churned out 370 metric tons, accounting for about 10% of global production.
Why Is It Yellow?
Have you ever wondered why gold is yellow? It’s metal, so shouldn’t it be lighter in color or even dark? Well, it’s yellow because of quantum mechanics.
Gold appears yellow because its atoms have electrons that travel at half the speed of light. While moving at these relativistic speeds, these electrons contract and increase in mass due to Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity; this action causes their wavelengths to shift, leading to the absorption of blue photons.
Because of the absorption of blue photos, the metal appears yellow, as that’s blue’s complementary color.
Black Gold
When people hear the word black gold, they immediately think of petroleum. However, it’s a figurative expression.
There is physical black gold, made by mixing normal metal and others like rhodium, cobalt, or ruthenium. The result of this combination is a stunning black metal that oozes style and elegance.
The Largest Reserve
It wouldn’t be possible to talk about gold without mentioning the country with the largest gold reserve, the good old USA.
As of 2023, the United States remained the country with the largest reserve, at 8000 metric tons, valued at about 480 billion dollars.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed reading and learning exciting gold facts. Don’t forget to leave us a comment and share with as many as you like. Also, you can check out our Facts Search Engine or read our China Facts Article.
