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Theories on the Origin of Gold
It is estimated that all of the gold that has ever been mined in the history of humankind totals only 165,000 metric tons. That might sound like a lot, but it equals only about 5.3 billion troy ounces. Is there still a lot of gold deep in the Earth that has yet to be mined? Some theorists believe that there is.
The Deep Earth Gold Theory
The deep earth gold theory suggests that gold was created by the nuclear reactions in the Earth’s core. The heat and pressure of these nuclear reactions produced heavy elements, including gold. This theory is supported by the fact that gold is found in very deep mines, far below the surface of the Earth.
The Meteorite Theory
The Astroscience team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, has investigated the link between Earth’s gold deposits and meteorites for many years. In 2008, they published a paper arguing that the quantity of gold found on our planet could have come from just 20 or 30 meteorites.
There are two ways in which meteorites could have deposited gold onto Earth: either through direct impact or through deposition of gold-rich dust that was ejecta from larger impacts. The JPL team believes that the latter is more likely, as it would explain why there are more gold deposits near the poles than near the equator (meteorites are more likely to fall near the poles due to Earth’s rotation).
The Meteorite Theory is just one of several theories about the origin of gold on Earth. Others include its formation in terrestrial volcanoes, hydrothermal vents, and large asteroids or comets colliding with our planet. However, the JPL team’s work provides compelling evidence that meteorites could have been a major source of the gold found on Earth.
The Deep Earth Gold Theory
It’s no secret that there’s gold deep in the Earth. But how did it get there, and is it enough to justify mining? That’s what we’re going to be discussing in this article. So sit back, and get ready to learn about the deep Earth gold theory.
What Is the Deep Earth Gold Theory?
The deep earth gold theory is a relatively new theory that suggests that the gold on Earth came from the planet’s mantle rather than being deposited by meteorites or other extraterrestrial sources. The theory arose from studies of the chemical composition of gold deposits, which showed that they were very similar to the composition of mantle rocks.
Two main pieces of evidence support the deep-earth gold theory. The first is mantle rocks contain a higher concentration of elements heavier than iron, such as gold. The second evidence is that mantle rocks are under much higher pressure than rocks at the surface, which could explain why gold deposits are so deep in the Earth.
There are still some unanswered questions about the deep-earth gold theory, but it is currently the most widely accepted explanation for the origin of gold on Earth.
Evidence for the Deep Earth Gold Theory
Most of the gold that is produced each year comes from gold mines. But did you know that there are theory’s that some gold is created deep within the Earth? This process is thought to happen when meteorites or comets strike the planet. When these colliding objects are heated up, they can cause two nuclear reactions: fission and fusion.
Fission is when a large atom splits into two smaller atoms. This can happen when another object hits an atom. Fusion is when two small atoms join together to form a larger atom. This can also happen when an object hits an atom. These reactions can create new elements, including gold.
The Deep Earth Gold Theory suggests that these nuclear reactions created some of the gold on Earth. The theory is supported by evidence from laboratory experiments and gold deposits found in the Earth’s crust.
Laboratory experiments have shown that fission and fusion reactions can create gold. In one experiment, scientists bombarded a piece of iron with a particle beam. This caused the iron to split into smaller atoms, including gold atoms. In another experiment, scientists hit iron with a powerful laser beam. This caused the iron to fuse with other atoms to form larger atoms, including gold atoms.
Studies of natural gold deposits support the idea that some gold was created by nuclear reactions deep within the Earth. Gold deposits are found in all continents except Antarctica. The largest deposit of natural gold in the world is in South Africa. This deposit is thought to be more than 2 billion years old. Nuclear reactions within the Earth’s crust created some of the gold in this deposit.
The Meteorite Theory
Meteorites are pieces of rocks that fall from the sky. They are made of different materials, including iron and gold. When meteorites hit the Earth, they can leave behind a trail of gold. Scientists believe that there is gold deep in the Earth because of meteorites.
What Is the Meteorite Theory?
The meteorite theory is the most popular explanation for the formation of the Moon. The theory states that a large planetary body, often called Theia, collided with Earth approximately 4.5 billion years ago. This collision was so powerful that it ejected material from Earth and Theia into orbit around the sun. Over time, this material merged to form the Moon.
Evidence for the Meteorite Theory
There is evidence to support the meteorite theory. Scientists had found gold in meteorites, believing that the gold was formed deep in the Earth before the meteorites were formed. They also believe that the gold was brought to the surface by the Meteorites.
