Gold deposits can be found all over the world, and they often include additional elements in varying formations. For example, gold ore can be found in quartz veins, banded iron formations, epithermal veins, interlayered metavolcanic rocks, along with many other variations. Today’s commercial gold mines often involve several operations necessary to extract the precious metal from these deposits. In this post, we’ll look at the five largest gold mines in the world according to production volume as of 2022. Muruntau Mine Location: Qizilqum Desert, Uzbekistan Estimated Annual Production: 2 million ..read more

The first-ever 3D analysis of a material known as “Zwischgold” has unveiled its composition, along with how medieval metalworkers used it as a gilding material thousands of years ago. The study was conducted by physicist Dr. Benjamin Watts and his team at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland. What is Zwischgold? Zwischgold is a blend of both silver and gold, formed into a foil that was commonly used as a coating, or gilding material for medieval objects and paintings. It’s not uncommon to find Zwischgold adorning artifacts from the medieval period. The surface layer of gold used on top o ..read more

An exciting new development around the effectiveness of using gold for cancer treatment was recently announced by researchers at the University of Toronto. During animal studies over a 150-day trial, the team discovered that radiation therapy – commonly used for the treatment of brain tumors and other forms of cancer – can be made more effective when used in conjunction with gold nanoparticles. The new study was led by Raymond Reilly, who is a professor in the Leslie Dan Faculty and one of just a handful of scientists around the world that specialize in radiopharmaceuticals. While gold nanopar ..read more

How to Determine a Gold Crown’s Value To determine the exact precious metal content, the gold dental crown would need to be assayed. This test should be performed by a reputable precious metal refinery (check its Google Business Profile for reviews, as well as Better Business Bureau before you go). After the exact amount of precious metal content is known, the value is calculated based on the spot price of gold or the other precious metals it may contain. Precious metal prices are fixed daily by the London Bullion Market Association and the London Platinum and Palladium Market. When Does a Den ..read more

Two stunning 18-karat gold koi swim across the face of the newest 3D “Jewelled” coin in the Perth Mint’s Masterpieces collection. A coveted addition to any gold coin collection, the Jewelled Koi boasts a total of 162 white, golden, and Argyle pink diamonds, and 10 ounces of 99.99% pure gold. The Jewelled Koi of 2022 is the fifth addition to the highly collectible bullion coins in the Perth Mint Masterpieces series. It follows the 2018 Jewelled Phoenix, 2019 Jewelled Dragon, 2020 Jewelled Tiger, and 2021 Jewelled Horse. Originally priced at $262,800 AUD, the Jewelled Koi was released as a limi ..read more

Computed tomography (CT) scans have been used to diagnose diseases, identify injuries and conduct research for decades. In fact, the first CT scan that allowed us to see inside the human skull took place more than 50 years ago. The idea came from British engineer Godfrey Hounsfield, who initially wondered if hidden areas of Egyptian pyramids could be discovered by capturing cosmic rays that pass through empty spaces. The concept is similar to the notion of peeking into a box without actually opening it. Over time, the idea evolved and Hounsfield ultimately invented a way to see inside a skull ..read more

Precious metals, including gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, have many uses and benefits, not the least of which is their unique properties that make them a great investment option. Read on to learn about some of the benefits of investing in precious metals. 1. Low Barrier to Entry Unlike many investment vehicles that require multiple steps, brokerage accounts, or a lot of red tape, investing in precious metals has a relatively low barrier to entry. The easiest way to invest in these metals is to simply purchase the physical assets in the form of coins, bars (bullion) or even jewelry. Whi ..read more

If your alchemy pursuits haven’t been working out, you might consider hanging out around black holes instead. That’s right: Scientists now believe that black holes can create heavy elements—including precious metals like gold—meaning there’s a potential new source of gold in space. According to research published earlier this year in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, black holes might have other really cool powers besides bending time and space. They also apparently have optimal energy conditions for creating heavy elements. The gold could form in what’s known as “accretio ..read more

The ability to distinguish between precious white metals like white gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and rhodium is obviously a useful skill – especially for professionals like jewelers and pawnbrokers. Mostly, the ability comes with experience. Over time, as you’re exposed to more and more specimens, you develop a sixth sense for materials. But you can still make educated guesses earlier on using these tips for identifying precious white metal jewelry. Of course, assaying is the only way to determine the type of precious metal with 100-percent accuracy. At Manhattan Gold & Silver, we pr ..read more

Gold deposits can be found all over the world, and they often include additional elements in varying formations. For example, gold ore can be found in quartz veins, banded iron formations, epithermal veins, interlayered metavolcanic rocks, along with many other variations. Today’s commercial gold mines often involve several operations necessary to extract the precious metal from these deposits. In this post, we’ll look at the five largest gold mines in the world according to production volume as of 2022.  Muruntau Mine Location: Qizilqum Desert, Uzbekistan Estimated Annual Production: 2 m ..read more