2007-04-04 06:33:03 · 4 answers · asked by goldhead 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
The earth doesn't make gold. It was formed in exploding stars.
2007-04-04 07:02:38 · answer #1 · answered by Gene 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Gold is an element. In other words Gold doesn't have any other atoms inside itself but the Gold atom, so it probably developed and remained the same when the earth was first formed ~4 billion years ago +/- a few million. So Gold is not a blend of two or three metals, it is only one substance, Au, which are gold atoms.
If you examine the periodic table found in chemistry, you will see there are 104 naturally occuring 'elements' and a few man-made ones. And these are called elements because they are pure and uncontaminated by other substances.
2007-04-04 13:44:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When the Earth was still completely molten, light elements rose to the surface of the earth (gases, silicates) and heavier ones tended to sink down into the interior. Our core is mostly nickel-iron.
The process wasn't perfectly completed, though, before the crust solidified. Some metals were frozen into lighter ores as they solidified. Gold is commonly found in quartzite. Some exposed outcroppings of these minerals have had gold eroded from them, which ended up downstream in rivers. Panners for gold finding this often look upstream.
2007-04-04 13:52:24 · answer #3 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not always 'below the dirt' often found in rivers
2007-04-04 13:41:32 · answer #4 · answered by snapdragon747 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋