The history of gold over the centuries

Gold is a precious metal that has long been the subject of fantasy and desire. Since the dawn of time, this element has captivated man's attention. But why such a fascination with this mineral? What is its history and how is it formed? This article provides the answers.

The history of gold is as old as the earth itself. Let's go back in time to discover the origins of this noble metal and its role from prehistoric times to the modern era.

The place of gold in ancient civilizations

Gold played an important role in early civilizations. They placed great value on gold. This noble metal was revered as a symbol of power and divinity. It forged empires and sparked many wars.

The discovery of gold

The discovery of gold dates back to the Chalcolithic era around 7000 BC. Who found it and how? For lack of tangible evidence, we have no precise answers to these questions. The discovery of gold objects in an old cemetery in Bulgaria, Europe, indicates that man was able to use it around 5000 BC.

Mastering gold working

Later, human societies such as Egypt, Greece and Mesopotamia began working gold to create a variety of sumptuous objects. These included jewelry of all kinds, such as bracelets, earrings and amulets, not to mention idols, plates and vases. They associated gold with beauty and wealth. Pre-Columbian societies had mastered goldsmithing earlier.

The monetization of gold

The monetization of gold dates back to antiquity. It was Croesus, the Lydian king, who came up with the idea of using gold and silver as a material to make round coins. The first gold coin, called "electrum", appeared in 700 B.C. It conquered the world until the 20th century. Today, traces of ancient mining sites and placers (alluvial sands) bear witness to those centuries when gold was the object of all kinds of covetousness.

The place of gold in the contemporary world

 The value of gold has not faded, even though it is no longer used as a currency of exchange. It remains the symbol of wealth and stability, and continues to exert a profound influence on world markets and society as a whole. Today, this precious metal is used in various sectors: electronics (as a component), medical (dentistry), jewelry and decoration. But gold's main use is as a hoarding material.

Gold mining from every angle

Where does gold come from?

The presence of gold in the Earth's crust is the result of meteorite bombardment. This phenomenon took place nearly 4 billion years ago. The scientific community calls this "the great late bombardment".

What techniques are used to extract gold?

Gold mining is a complex business. It encompasses both artisanal and highly technical activities and operations aimed at separating gold from its ores. To extract this rare metal from the earth, gold miners use a variety of processes. Thanks to technological advances, the traditional techniques of the American West have been replaced by modern techniques. Here are just a few of the techniques most commonly used to extract gold in the modern mining industry:

• Vat leaching: Ore is placed in tanks with a cyanide solution, where the gold is dissolved. The solution is then treated to recover the gold.
• Heap leaching: unlike the tank leaching process, crushed ore is placed in a heap on an impermeable surface.
• Flotation: gold is extracted from sulfide ore. It is based on the use of chemical agents that render the gold hydrophobic. The gold attaches itself to air bubbles in an aqueous solution. The gold bubbles are then collected and separated from the rest of the ore.
• Open-pit mining: to exploit gold deposits closer to the surface. Large earth-moving machines are deployed to extract the ore from large quantities of earth and rock.
• Underground mining: this technique is necessary when gold deposits are located at great depths. This process involves digging tunnels and galleries to gain access to gold deposits.

The path of gold through the treatment processes: smelting, refining and casting

After extraction, the raw gold must be purified before it can be marketed for use.

The fusion stage

The extracted raw gold is melted in a furnace. Chemical reducing agents react with the heat to remove impurities and concentrate the gold content. After melting, the pure gold is refined.

The refining stage

This phase consists of using specific techniques such as electrolytic refining or Miller refining to obtain a gold ingot with a high purity of up to 99.99%.

The gold ingot casting stage

Once the gold has been refined to the desired purity, it is poured into molds to form ingots or gold bars of various shapes and sizes, ready for sale. Buyers can verify their origins and purity. These gold ingots are then used for a variety of purposes. The noble metal is incorporated into jewelry or industrial products. Gold bullion can also be used for financial investment.

From mining to processing, gold has a long way to go before it reaches the market. So the reason gold is so expensive is because of its supply and scarcity. This mineral cannot be sold in its natural state. 

The different carats of gold

First of all, the different carats of gold indicate the purity of the gold contained in an alloy. The carat is a unit of measurement used to express the proportion of pure gold in a precious metal.

The following information will give you some idea of the carats of gold, as well as their value and strength.

Number of carats Composition Uses (jewelry) Special features

• 24 carats (24K) 99.9% pure gold. Rarely used in jewelry or valuables. The purest form of gold available on the market.
• 22 carats (22K) 91.7% pure gold, mixed with other metals. A popular choice for traditional jewelry and coins. A perfect balance of purity and durability.
• 18 carats (18K) 75% pure gold, mixed with 25% other metals. Commonly used in the manufacture of high-quality jewelry (engagement rings, necklaces, bracelets, luxury watches). It stands out for its great strength and beautiful golden color.
• 14 carats (14K) 58.3% pure gold, mixed with 41.7% other metals. Used in the manufacture of everyday jewelry (rings, earrings and pendants). Good durability and more affordable than purer alloys.
• 10 carats (10K) 41.7% pure gold, mixed with 58.3% other metals. Used in the manufacture of affordable, fashion and commemorative jewelry. Cheaper and more durable.

For carats below 24, pure gold is mixed with other metals such as silver, copper or zinc. When buying gold jewelry, it's always best to check the numbre of carats to determine the purity of the gold in the alloy.

In conclusion, gold is a precious metal with countless applications in industry, medicine, space exploration and jewelry design, giving it an indispensable global influence.