A rare mineral found in nature… A metal that can conduct heat and electricity… Also a mineral… Shiny, eye-catching… Sometimes a piece of jewelry, sometimes an ornament… A symbol of wealth and power!..
In ancient times, people realized that gold was a rare and valuable substance and began to use it in various ways. This has continued throughout history. Civilizations such as the ancient Egyptians, Aztecs, Incas, and ancient Greeks always attached great importance to gold. They made decorations, jewelry, and objects from gold. In the 550s BC, the Lydians began using gold as currency for the first time. Gold has even been the subject of many legends.
The chemical symbol for gold is “Eu.” Au is an abbreviation of the Latin word “Aurum,” meaning “to shine.”
The chemical symbol for gold is “Eu.
Gold is one of the most durable metals. Metals usually undergo a chemical change when they come into contact with air or water. As a result, their color changes. For example, copper turns greenish when exposed to air over time. Similarly, iron turns reddish-brown, and silver turns black. However, this is not the case with gold. Gold does not rust and its color does not change. Therefore, it remains intact even after thousands of years. This is an important reason for gold’s value. Gold is softer than other metals, making it easy to shape. For this reason, it is also used in jewelry and ornament making.
Gold is softer than other metals, making it easy to shape. For this reason, it is also used in jewelry and ornament making.
How is Gold Extracted?
Today, gold deposits are located using satellite images. Sand, rock, and water samples collected from these locations are analyzed in the laboratory. Exploration then begins.
Gold is typically found in rocks containing the mineral quartz, in stream beds, and on the ocean floor. The gold within the quartz mineral occurs in very small particles or powder. To separate the gold, the quartz is first crushed into small pieces. These pieces are then subjected to a chemical treatment.
In riverbeds, a round, flat container is used to separate gold particles or gold dust found in the sand. Water is poured into this container along with the sand. The container is rotated in a circular motion. The water and sand that accumulate on the sides are slowly poured out. Gold particles and dust remain behind because gold is much heavier than sand.
Machines called “dredges” are also used to extract gold from the ocean floor. These machines perform a similar task to that of gold prospectors with their pans. Dredges extract tons of sand from the ocean floor. When this sand is discharged back through large hoses along with water, the gold remains behind.
The measure of gold’s purity is called “karat” or “karat.” Pure gold is 24 karat. For example, if a ring is 18 karat, this indicates that 18/24 of the gold is gold, with the remainder being a different metal. Jewelry or items made of gold are stamped with a “karat” (carat). The hallmark indicates the gold’s purity.
What you see in this photo is a mineral called “pyrite.” This mineral is often confused with gold because of its color and luster. For this reason, it’s also called “fool’s gold.”
Where is Gold Used?
Gold reflects sunlight. For this reason, the exterior surfaces of some spacecraft and satellites are coated with a thin layer of gold. This layer reflects a portion of the sun’s rays, preventing the satellites and spacecraft from overheating.
Some aircraft window glass is similarly coated with a thin layer of gold. This prevents the glass from fogging or freezing because this gold layer significantly reduces the heat exchange between the outside and the inside.
Very thin pieces of gold are used in some computer components because gold doesn’t rust and conducts electricity faster than other metals. In some countries, such as India, thin sheets of gold are used to decorate dishes.
Gold has been used in dental fillings and crowns since ancient times. Today, gold is also used for purposes such as diagnosing and treating diseases. However, this gold isn’t just visible to the naked eye. It’s one-millionth of a millimeter! In other words, it’s “nano” sized! Gold particles of this size are called “nanogold.” Nanogold is used to locate cancer cells in the human body. Scientists are also conducting research to prevent the spread of the disease by loading nanogold particles with drugs and delivering them to cancer cells.
