![]() ![]() Gold also commonly occurs in c onglomerate deposits.These fluids solidify at a relatively low temperature when compared to magma and some other hydrothermal fluids and thus occur closer to the surface, away from the heat source. These deposits are formed when hydrothermal fluids containing silica and gold cool off in cracks and faults in the rock mass. Structurally controlled quartz veining (Lode) is one of the most common types of deposits in North America that contain gold. Several of the most common types are discussed below: There are many different types of deposits that contain gold, – some of them more well defined than others. Alternatively, gold that is 100% pure is 24ct. For example gold with a fineness of 800 means it is 80% pure gold. Fineness is defined as the parts per 1000. The purity of gold is stated in terms of fineness and carats (ct). Many pyrite and pyrrhotite minerals contain gold, which is often recovered when extracting copper from lode vein deposits. It rarely occurs in nature in compounds, but when it does it occurs in tellurides such as AuTe 2 and selenides (AUSe). It exists in nature in its native form, and alloyed, most often with silver and to a lesser extent with copper. Gold’s high electrical and thermal conductivity, are only superseded by that of by two other 1B elements -silver and copper. All 1B metals are relatively inert and are corrosion resistant gold is very dense and has a specific gravity of 19.3 and an atomic weight of 197. Like all other transitional metals, including silver and copper, gold’s valence electrons – the electrons that combine with other elements are present in more than one shell. Again with the exception of roentgenium, the 1B group have a similar electron configuration with one electron in their outer shell. With the exception of roentgenium, the other metals in this group were known as “coinage metals”. The other metals of the 1B group are silver copper and roentgenium. Its atomic number is 79 and is a member of the group 1B metals which is a subgroup of the larger transitional group of metals. ![]() ![]() Gold is soft, yellow, has a relatively high melting point of 1,064 oC and is the most ductile and malleable of all metals. Up until recently, gold was considered as a safe haven for investment in times of economic and geopolitical turmoil. This was eliminated by President Nixon (US) in 1971, thus ending a very long history of the reliance of the gold standard for trade. Under this agreement, the US dollar alone was pegged to gold and all other currencies were related to the USD. The last gold standard developed was the Bretton Woods Agreement after WWII. Various forms of gold-backed currencies developed throughout history. Gold as a currency dates back to ancient Greece. Gold’s beauty, unique density, relatively low melting point and ability to form coinage made it a natural trading medium. The greed for gold throughout history has led to the enslavement of nations, conflict between nations and appalling treatment of men. Gold has been the most highly esteemed and sought after precious commodity since the times of antiquity It has spurred on numerous expeditions and conquests dating back to Alexander the Great, to Caesar of Rome and to Cortez’s conquests of Central and South America. Man had to learn about hard rock extraction methods and how to locate those gold deposits just to satisfy the thirst for that yellow metal. Man knew more about gold itself and lusted for it much before he understood the geology of hard rock gold or its deposits. ![]()
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