Where is gold found in nature? What most common element is it?

Question

Like, is it the 3rd, 4th, most common element on earth?

Answer 1

It is found in gold mines. Either in veins of almost pure metal, or in rocks called ore, that have gold bonded with other chemicals. Ore needs to be chemically processed to extract the gold.

Gold is rare in the earth.

The most common elements in the earth are silicon, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, sodium, potassium, chorine, fluorine (the gasses are bonded with other common elements). Most 'rock' is some compound of silicon. Gold is waaaay down on the list.

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Answer 2

I agree with Rac. Look for nice bright white quarts veins in Gray granite rock. The special circumstance you are looking for is a nice heavy green line at the interface between the two types of rock (typically at the bottom side on the quartz). The green is Copper, and for some reason Gold is often found when that geological formation occurs. Now this is Gold as it is extruded from the earth.

But the folks above missed the oblivious source - placer gold. As nature erodes those rocks above, the Gold is carried down stream. Prospectors go out and dig up the sand at the bottom of streams and separate the Gold from sand.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placer_gold

Answer 3

It is associated with fault lines where great pressure and heat is exerted. Volcanic activity that creates granite will also create gold. Look for quartz veins associated with granite, which is an igneous intrusive rock, and then look for gold flecks associated with the quartz. Granite is common and so is quartz but the gold is not. That is why it is called a rare earth metal and makes it valuable. It is also pretty, doesn't corrode and is very maleable, meaning it is soft with tensile strength.

Answer 4

Gold, or ore deposits, are usually found within or near fault systems.....where heating and uplift have occured - such as old volcanicly active areas.
Pressure and heat in these systems together make for deposits of silver and gold if the right minerals are present.....oxides and sufides.
Sulfide ores generate "acid drainage" when they interact with water and oxygen, and are processed differently than oxide ores which tend to be more environmentally friendly.
"fools gold" , or pyrite, is a sulfide.

Answer 5

It's found in veins in the earth. Think of a huge tree root buried in the earth; same thing, only gold. As for the other, hell if I know.

Answer 6

It's a precious metal, your going to have to rip off the crust of the earth to find out. One thing is for sure, it's not as common as copper or iron.

Answer 7

it's found in lumps in the ground and it's not very common which is why it is expensive.

Answer 8

Was asking myself the same question