2006-07-07 18:49:36 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Cosmologically, from fusion in the core of stars.
Geologically, gold is omnipresent in traces (too low to be exploited) in ocean water. Mineral deposits tend to be associated with quartz veins, and as an exploitable trace in other metal ores.
Typical lead ore contains small amounts of silver with impurities of gold and other noble metals. Concentrating up the silver is an economically important part of the lead production. IIRC, a concentrate with up to 30% silver is sent to specialist treatment which separates out silver and more noble metals, then concentrates up the more noble metals from the silver.
2006-07-07 21:33:41 · answer #1 · answered by jorganos 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gold, like all the heavier elements, is forged by fusion in the searing-hot furnace at the heart of a dying star. Eventually, the pent up forces will cause the star to go super-nova, causing an explosion of unimaginable scale that can last for years, and which forges many times over more heavy elements than the star produced in its normal lifetime. The leftover gases and heavy elements will form a nebula, which will eventually coallesce into a new star system. Sometimes, heavy chunks of materials will form planets, some of which will contain gold.
2006-07-08 01:56:16 · answer #2 · answered by Argon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gold is an element, so it is not composed of anything else. Its periodic symbol is Au, and is a noble metal. As for the origin of the element, a possible source is supernovas.
2006-07-08 01:58:54 · answer #3 · answered by Brian D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everything started as hydrogen. Cook it enough (fusion) in stars and then crush it in supernovas a couple times and you get all the other elements from helium through uranium.
Next, let the plasma condense into planets, get stirred up through gravitational tides and collisions with other debris, then let the outer 1% cool and you've got veins of gold.
2006-07-08 01:58:08 · answer #4 · answered by soulrider 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gold is an element. It is formed in the last stage of an exploding star.
2006-07-08 01:53:44 · answer #5 · answered by vector4tfc 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of the heavy elements come from the remnants of dead stars that went supernova in the distant past. Those bits and pieces accumulated into what we call Earth today.
It kind of blows the mind, right?
2006-07-08 01:55:54 · answer #6 · answered by Karl the Webmaster 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
from gold mines?
2006-07-08 01:52:40 · answer #7 · answered by oveningskor 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
gold retard
2006-07-08 01:52:15 · answer #8 · answered by joseph g 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋