Process to form elements in quantity

[rasp]

Do macro amounts of elements form when atoms of a certain type (e..g. gold) bond together to form a substantial mass? Or do atoms of mixed types bond together and then together take on the properties we ascribe to each element?

The reason I ask is that it seems improbable to me that a few gold atoms created in some stellar fusion event would travel the universe for billions of years only finding and bonding with other gold atoms until it developed into a pure gold nugget found on the earth. I don't recall hearing of a scientific theory which states that fusion events produce streams of gold nuggets.

[Vanadium 50]

It's chemical processes in planets, with a little assist from gravity than does this.

[rasp]

It's chemical processes in planets, with a little assist from gravity than does this.

Can you be a tad more specific? Assuming it is more likely for unlike atoms to encounter each other in space, I'm wondering what forces would cause a pure element to form matter anywhere in the universe, as opposed to only the formnulation of homulugated molecular compunds. Are there forces that drive like atoms to bond together in a greater probability than unlike atoms, which may have similiar chemical valences?

[Vanadium 50]

A good example of a single element would be diamond formation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond).