Gold is formed due to the extreme conditions in the collapsing core of supernova stars.
When the nuclear fusion reaction ceases, the upper layers of the supernova collapse onto the stellar core, thus compressing and heating matter until lighter nuclei, such as iron, fuse creating heavy metals, such as gold.
It seems that the pressure and temperature inside the Earth are not enough to create the nuclear fusion from which gold originates.
Where To Find Gold?
Pure gold can usually be found in rivers in different parts of the world. On the European continent, Russia has large amounts of gold, in Spain, England, Austria, and Romania there are smaller amounts. Certain river stones have gold nuggets inside. Thanks to the force of the water, the gold nuggets are separated from the rock and remain at the bottom of the channel in the form of small particles.
How Is Gold Mined?
Throughout time there have been various ways of extracting gold. Due to the value of this mineral, its extraction has generated economic and social processes worldwide, this economic activity being a development engine for several countries. The extraction of gold from the ground is known as gold mining.
Where To Find Gold?
Pure gold can usually be found in rivers in different parts of the world. On the European continent, Russia has large amounts of gold, in Spain, England, Austria, and Romania there are smaller amounts. Certain river stones have gold nuggets inside. Thanks to the force of the water, the gold nuggets are separated from the rock and remain at the bottom of the channel in the form of small particles.
Different Techniques To Extract Gold
Panning, also called panning, consists of filling a container with sand and gravel in which there may be gold. The shape of the container is concave and shallow, resembling a deep plate with a diameter of 25-35 cm. The container is then filled with water and shaken. Since gold is denser than sand, the metal remains at the bottom of the container.
Usually, the material for tamping is obtained from the banks of streams and rivers. The water from these sites is used to separate the gold from the sand, although there are also deposits in dry beds of streams and rivers where an external source of water is needed.
This technique to extract gold is the simplest. It is used on an individual basis but is not commercially viable for removing gold from large deposits.
Getting Gold With A Metal Detector
Using a metal detector, the exploration area is covered. When a metal is present, the device generates a signal. However, not everything that is detected is going to be gold. Gold detectors are easy to use and highly mobile, which is why this technique is prevalent in gold diggers.
Gold Extraction With Cyanide
In places where there are fine gold-bearing rocks, gold extraction can be carried out using cyanide. For this, the fine rocks must be mixed with the sodium cyanide solution. In addition, zinc must be added to separate the gold from the rocks in the form of a gold cyanidation solution.
Nitric acid or sulfuric acid is then used to remove the zinc and leave the gold. The process continues by melting down the 99.9999% pure gold bullion and sending it to refineries.
Charcoal is also used to extract gold from the filtration solution. A solution made up of alcohol, caustic soda, and cyanide is then used to separate the gold from the carbon.
The gold adheres to steel wool through electro-winning. On the other hand, gold resins can also be used instead of activated carbon to make a selective separation of gold.
This extraction technique in which cyanide is used, despite being simple and straightforward, carries environmental risks, which is why it is prohibited in some countries.
Small-Scale Gold Mining
The minerals that are extracted from the veins and that contain a good amount of gold in free and granulated particles are mixed with water and ground.
Then mercury is added to make an amalgam with gold, this is separated from the rest by straining with a fine cloth. Then the amalgam is burned and the mercury evaporates. The gold is in the form of balls, its size will depend on the amount of metal in the mineral. Due to the mercury vapors, this technique is harmful to the miner and the surrounding areas.
