Where Did Gold Originally Come From: A Geological Tale

Have you ever wondered about the extraterrestrial origins of gold? Contrary to what you might think, gold didn’t originate within the Earth’s rocky crust. Instead, it was formed in the vast expanse of outer space through a fascinating process that involves cataclysmic stellar explosions known as supernovae. To shed light on this incredible journey of gold from space to Earth, CERN Scientist David Lunney will guide us through the remarkable story of how this precious metal was forged in the cosmos and eventually found its way to our planet.

Billions of years ago, during Earth’s tumultuous early history, asteroids collided with the planet’s surface, resulting in a significant mixing of its geological layers. This cosmic collision played a pivotal role in redistributing precious metals, including gold, within the Earth. Initially, gold had primarily accumulated in the planet’s core due to its high density. However, as the asteroids struck, they brought about a process of layer blending, causing gold to migrate from the core to the upper layers, specifically the mantle and crust. This event, which occurred long before recorded history, has left a fascinating geological legacy that scientists continue to study and uncover, shedding light on Earth’s rich history and the origins of its valuable resources. (Note: The date “24 thg 3, 2021” appears to be unrelated to the topic and has been omitted.)

The origin of pure gold has intrigued scientists for many years, and one prevailing theory suggests that it originated in the early universe shortly after the Big Bang, which occurred approximately 13.8 billion years ago. According to this theory, gold was created when high-energy particles, resulting from the explosive aftermath of the Big Bang, collided and merged. These collisions led to the formation of heavier elements through a fundamental process called nuclear fusion. It is believed that this nuclear fusion process took place primarily within the cores of massive stars. As these stars reached the end of their lifecycle, they underwent supernova explosions, scattering newly formed elements, including gold, into the cosmos. This fascinating process ultimately contributed to the distribution of gold throughout the universe, and our quest to understand this precious metal’s origin continues to captivate researchers and astronomers as of January 10, 2023.