Facts about Gold

Fact #1 : How did gold get its name ?

Though the name is Anglo Saxon, gold originated from the Latin Aurum, or shining dawn, and previously from the Greek. Many people in California figured gold was there, but it was James W. Marshall on January 24, 1848, who saw something shiny in Sutter Creek near Coloma, California. He had discovered gold unexpectedly while overseeing construction of a sawmill on the American River.

Fact #2 : Why is Gold precious ?

One reason why gold is so rare is because it is a relatively heavy metal, meaning that it is hard to naturally produce. … Gold is one of the most beautiful, useful, and rare compounds in our universe. It can be used for everything from beautiful jewelry to NASA spaceships.

The metal is abundant enough to create coins but rare enough so that not everyone can produce them. Gold doesn’t corrode, providing a sustainable store of value, and humans are physically and emotionally drawn to it. Societies and economies have placed value on gold, thus perpetuating its worth.

Fact #3 : Who found the most gold?

Considered by most authorities to be the biggest gold nugget ever found, the Welcome Stranger was found at Moliagul, Victoria, Australia in 1869 by John Deason and Richard Oates. It weighed gross, over 2,520 troy ounces (78 kg; 173 lb) and returned over 2,284 troy ounces (71.0 kg; 156.6 lb) net.

The first solid evidence archeologists have of human interaction with gold comes from the ancient Egyptians in roughly 3,000 BC. The metal was not only a status of wealth, but was also an important part of Egyptian mythology and daily life.

Gold is primarily found as the pure, native metal. Sylvanite and calaverite are gold-bearing minerals. Gold is usually found embedded in quartz veins, or placer stream gravel. It is mined in South Africa, the USA (Nevada, Alaska), Russia, Australia and Canada.

Fact #4 : How much gold is there on earth?

About 244,000 metric tons of gold has been discovered to date (187,000 metric tons historically produced plus current underground reserves of 57,000 metric tons). Most of that gold has come from just three countries: China, Australia, and South Africa.

Some industry experts are predicting that gold could be worth anywhere from $3,000–$5,000 per ounce in the next 5–10 years!

Fact #5 : Who is the richest gold miner?

According to sources, Tony Beets is the richest miner on Gold Rush. The richest cast member on Gold Rush appears to be Tony Beets by a pretty significant margin. He’s been on the series since season 2, and as of 2020, he’s amassed a net worth of roughly $15 million (via Celebrity Net Worth).

The world’s largest gold bar stands at 250 kg (551 lb), measuring at the base 455 mm × 225 mm (17.9 in × 8.9 in) and 170 mm (6.7 in) high with 5 degree draft angle (equal to 15,730 cm³ or 960 cu in). It was manufactured by the Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi.