Curious Cases Mining for Gold (GOLD!)
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Dec 31, 2025 Join Graham Hutchings, a chemistry professor, as he reveals the beauty and unique properties of gold. Frances Wall, a mineralogy expert, explains how gold forms and the modern techniques used in mining. British astronaut Tim Peake shares fascinating insights on gold's critical roles in space technology. The trio dives into gold's surprising applications, from electronics to medicine, and even its whimsical use in food. What’s more, they discuss whether all mined gold could fit in an Olympic swimming pool!
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Gold's Chemical Longevity
- Gold resists corrosion and chemical attack, so it remains unchanged through fires and time.
- Graham Hutchings highlights that gold's electropositivity makes it chemically unreactive and long-lasting.
Stellar Origins And Geological Movement
- Gold originally formed in stellar explosions and neutron-star collisions before concentrating in Earth's crust.
- Frances Wall explains hydrothermal fluids then mobilise and redeposit tiny amounts into economically mineable deposits.
Gold Often Hides At Low Concentrations
- Much modern gold exists as extremely low concentrations in rock and is economically viable at around one part per million.
- Frances Wall notes mining then crushes rock and uses chemicals like cyanide to extract microscopic gold.