Post updated: May 26, 2020
Gold has long secured its function as an element of the global financial system. The reserves of this metal are small, which is why gold has practically not been lost over the course of history, no matter what cataclysms human society has had to endure: the yellow metal was melted down and accumulated. Today, gold products and bars act as the most important investment objects. The use of gold is not limited to investment. The metal is used in the production of jewelry, in the implementation of modern technologies in a variety of industries, as well as in medicine.
A little history
Because gold could be found almost anywhere in the world, it became an essential element in almost all human cultures.
Starting with Ancient Egypt, where decorative gold objects dating back over 5,000 years have been found. Advertising - Continued below
The beauty of gold was associated by ancient people with immortality and the wealth of the gods, so jewelry and decorative elements were made from it. Gold was also one of the first currencies to replace traditional barter exchange.
Children's gold bracelet. Egypt. Approximately 2650 BC Photo: www.metmuseum.org
The very first gold coins were minted in the kingdom of Lydia in 550 BC, and since then this metal has remained the main element of the monetary system. Even after modern paper money was adopted, currencies remained linked through the Gold Standard, a system introduced in the 1870s that fixed the value of these currencies in a certain amount of gold.
Physical and chemical properties of metal
This is one of the few noble metals that can be found in nature in its pure form. Pure gold is very soft, only 2.5-3 on the Mohs hardness scale. This is a plus for easy metal processing: one gram of gold can be rolled into a thin sheet with a thickness of only 230 atoms and an area of one meter. But the softness of gold is a disadvantage for the strength of products made from it, so gold is most often alloyed with other metals.
Gold is a good conductor of heat and electricity and is resistant to oxidation and corrosion. The noble metal has a very high boiling and melting point.
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The temperature required to melt gold is 1065°C and the boiling point is 2856°C.
Industrial significance
One of the key areas where gold is used is industrial production. The particular importance of the precious metal in this branch of human activity is due to its specific properties, namely malleability and ductility. They make it possible to create micron wire and ultra-thin foil sheets from raw materials.
Gold is also characterized by a high degree of resistance to aggressive influences, which is important for the chemical field and electronics. Moreover, even low thermal and electrical conductivity does not make gold less in demand than copper.
Among the key branches of modern industry where gold is used, the following should be highlighted :
- Transport sector.
- Chemical and petrochemical production.
- Modern nanotechnology.
- Telecommunications areas.
- Electronics and production of measuring equipment.
- Energy industry.
Aurum is an indispensable solution for welding applications when creating advanced technical samples, thermocouples or small galvanometer components.
And although gold is inferior to many platinum group metals in terms of chemical and mechanical resistance, it remains indispensable for the manufacture of electrical conductors, especially in the field of microelectronics. Currently, based on this raw material, both gold conductors and electroplating of individual boards, microcircuits and connectors are created.
How gold is mined
North-Eastern Siberia, Kuranakh ore field.
Photo: PJSC Polyus Gold mining is carried out in the following countries: South Africa, Australia, USA, Canada, Russia, China and Pakistan. One of the largest gold mines is the Aurora mine, located in Guyana, Africa.
In ancient times, pieces of gold were simply found in a river or earth. During the Gold Rush, gold was mined by hand using a pick and shovel. By 1853, hydraulic mining had emerged and replaced independent gold miners. Today, gold is mined in large open-pit or underground mines.
The process begins with geologists taking samples of the ore to determine the best places to mine. Once mining engineers know where the gold is and what other materials surround it, the mining process can begin.
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If gold is located close to the surface, it is mined by open-pit mining. In fact, a huge hole is dug in the ground, along the inner perimeter of which a road goes down like a spiral. Equipment for mining and moving ore goes down and up along this road.
Application of gold alloys in particle accelerators
Gold and its various alloys are used not only in the production of highly reliable miniature contacts and radio tubes, but also in modern particle accelerators, also called colliders. They are giant annular chambers - pipes rolled into a bagel. The deeper the vacuum that can be obtained in such a chamber, the longer elementary particles can exist in it. To achieve this, along with other technical means, washers and sealing rings made of ductile gold are used. The camera joints are also soldered with gold.
Modern uses of gold
Gold can be called the most popular precious metal of any era. Now it is used in various fields of human activity: from creating simple jewelry to complex medical devices.
Jewelry
Gold has been used to make jewelry for thousands of years. Today, up to 80% of mined or processed gold is used in jewelry. One of the reasons why this precious metal is so popular among jewelers is its malleability - gold can be used to create the most delicate works.
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Of course, jewelers do not use gold in its pure form; jewelry is usually made from gold alloys. To classify the gold content in an alloy, samples are used. Each sample of gold has its own color, because its shade is influenced by the composition of the alloy.
Electronics
Gold plated connectors.
Photo: Amazon Since gold is a good conductor, it is used in spare parts for electronic devices. For example, there is about 0.034 g of gold inside a mobile phone. In addition, gold is found in many connectors, cables and circuit boards, including computers, televisions and GPS devices.
Medicine
The first thing worth mentioning is dentistry. Gold is considered the best filler for cavities and crowns, bridges and other orthodontic appliances because the metal is malleable and easily molds to the desired shape. Also, gold does not react when mixed with other metals.
Small amounts of gold isotopes are used in some types of radiation therapy, which is often used for cancer.
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beauty
Mask made of the thinnest gold foil.
Photo: Getty Images Gold also has a place in the beauty industry, because... It is a good antioxidant, and gold has also been proven to fight signs of aging. Gold can work on the skin at the cellular level, activating collagen production and plumping the skin.
Everyone has heard about Cleopatra's milk baths, but there is another story - they say that the queen constantly made face masks from pure gold. Today, gold can be found in the composition of many cosmetic products: the same masks, creams, scrubs, peelings, etc. Of course, the content of the noble metal in them is low, and such products are expensive.
Sun protection
Chandrayaan-2 is an interplanetary station for lunar exploration.
Photo: ISRO Another amazing property of this noble metal is protection from ultraviolet rays. The largest area of application of gold for such purposes is astronautics. There is a special “gold foil” that is used to cover parts of spacecraft to protect them from solar radiation. Astronauts' spacesuits are also covered with gold, which allows a person to see, but does not allow harmful rays to pass through.
Cooking
Golden Opulence Ice Cream Garnished with Edible Gold Gold
is truly edible, and some chefs garnish their gourmet dishes with liquid gold. In one of the establishments in New York you can try pizza with pieces of gold, it will cost $2000, and in Abu Dhabi you can drink a golden cappuccino for $20.
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In fact, people have been eating gold since ancient Egypt, believing that the metal was sacred and would give them strength. The harm or benefit of eating gold has not been proven.
Awards
Gold has become a symbol of the award for first place in competitions, championships and other competitions. It is used to make medals for the Olympics, awards for film festivals and music awards, and even at smaller events, winners are often given gold jewelry.
Other areas
Also, the unique properties of gold have been used in the field of metal soldering, which is associated with the material’s ability to wet working surfaces well. Aurum is indispensable in the defense industry, as it is used in the manufacture of targets for nuclear research, coating of mirrors that are designed to operate in the far range of infrared radiation, and also in creating the shell of a neutron bomb.
When using electroplating with metal, any corrosion processes can be prevented, and the ability to create the thinnest gold plates is extremely in demand in the field of ultra-high vacuum research.
Being a good reflector of infrared rays, metal is also indispensable in the glass industry. Recently, the concept of metallization of double-glazed windows has become widespread, which involves inserting a thin film of gold into the window. When electric current is applied to such a surface, it becomes anti-fog. This is especially important in the production of glass products for large vehicles, including aircraft, electric locomotives and sea vessels.
As for the use of gold in the aviation and space industries, it sometimes causes controversial debates, since the material has a high specific gravity. But metal is intended for those tasks where the development of corrosion processes is unacceptable. Among them:
- Welding motor units.
- Connecting soldering points of electrical contacts.
- Coating windows of spacecraft with galvanic film.
What stones go best with gold in jewelry?
18K Gold Carved Ruby Ring by ARTISAN
Gold is so versatile that it goes well with all stones. An exception is aquamarine on white gold - on it it is almost invisible and is lost from attention, but some will like this option. Also, some consider it unacceptable to combine bright red stones (for example, garnet or ruby) with yellow gold. But, again, this is a matter of taste.
Unconventional methods
Since ancient times, wearing gold jewelry was considered the best prevention of various ailments. People gave this material magical properties, claiming that it drives away evil spirits, protects its owner from witchcraft, the evil eye and any other problems.
The beneficial effects of gold on the human body are based on the following theses :
- The material helps improve memory and prevents the occurrence of atherosclerosis.
- Causes strengthening of the cardiovascular and circulatory systems.
- Fights colds.
- Raises overall tone and gives a person a feeling of vivacity and a surge of vitality.
However, the listed properties of the material do not always justify themselves when treating a particular patient. Here you need to take into account the individual factor and first consult with a specialist.
In some cases, wearing jewelry leads to various problems and only aggravates the problem. A negative reaction of the body to the material manifests itself in the form of elevated body temperature, pain in the intestines, kidney problems, and a depressive state. Similar symptoms have been identified in some patients who have been in constant contact with yellow treasure.
