Gold is one of the most valuable metals on earth, used for a variety of different purposes; from decorative purposes, through to monetary value. But did you know that the Aztecs referred to it as excrement or that a 17lb lump of gold was used as a door stop for 3 years? Take a look at the 6 interesting facts about gold below for more.
Oldest Worked Metal
Many people assume that the first metal used by man was bronze, due to the fact the period which immediately followed the Stone Age, was named the “Bronze Age” (3200-600BC). However, decorative gold objects which have been found in Bulgaria have been dated as far back as 4,000 BC – meaning it was being worked by man during the Stone Age!
Gold Stores
While America has the largest gold reserves in the world, it is estimated that approximately 20% of all the gold used for decorative purposes is in Indian saris! This on its own is enough to put India in the lead as far as volume consumed for decorative purposes is concerned.
Malleable
Not only is gold pretty much indestructible, it is one of the most malleable metals. A single one ounce piece of gold could create a 50 wire which is five micrometers long and stretch over 50 miles long! It can also be beaten into sheets which are 2millionths of a cm thick!
Excrement
The Aztecs used the word “Teocuitlatl” as their word for gold. Teocuilatl translates as meaning “Excrement of the gods”.
Undiscovered Treasure
The first documented discovery of gold in the USA was in 1799 when Conrad Reed discovered a large 17lb lump of gold. The discovery was in North Carolina on his father’s farm. After the rock being used as a door stop for 3 years, a jeweller bought the rock from them for $3.50. It is estimated that it was worth in excess of $3,600 in 1799 and would now be worth over $100,000! In 1803, Reed realised what had happened and organised the country’s first commercial gold mine.
Unobtainable Treasure
There is an estimated 10 billion tons of gold under the oceans on earth. The problem is that there is no way it can be mined! It is also estimated that many of the asteroids in space contain large amounts of precious metals. A research in 1999 estimated that the asteroid Eros contained more precious metals than could ever be excavated from Earth. Again, there is no way of getting this though!
The author currently writes for several companies about a variety of products, from Diamond Jubilee Gifts through to slate signs.
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