The Origins of Gold

The gold decorated plate made in 1984 combines an ancient style with modern precious metal coating science.Worldview. The dress, made entirely of gold, weighs 5.4 kg. World Gold Council.

We find gold in two types of deposits- Lode and Placer. Ages ago, deep inside the earth, geologic activity carried molten minerals into cracks in rocks where it cooled and formed veins of precious metals. These are called lode deposits. Eventually, the rock containing the gold becomes weathered and bits of gold are carried downstream by the current and gravity--These are placer deposits. With a specific gravity of 19.3, pure gold is quite heavy (19.3 times heavier than water.) Gold and other heavier minerals settle out in the sand and gravel along the stream or river bottoms or along the inside curves of streams.

This map shows regions of the U.S. that have produced gold. Shelly Fischman

Jeremy M. Brodie
Environmental Education and Volunteer Programs
Last Updated: May 1, 1996