At which depth could the existance of gold being plausible?

  • Thread starter Thread starter papajo
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Depth Gold
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the plausibility of gold existing at various depths within the Earth, exploring the geological processes that lead to gold formation and concentration. Participants also inquire about the feasibility of establishing a small-budget mining operation for gold extraction.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether gold is located or formed within specific depth ranges or if it can be found anywhere in the Earth.
  • One participant notes that gold is formed in stars and suggests that it was deposited in the Earth's crust during its formation and through volcanic activity.
  • A participant recalls that gold is primarily found many miles down in the crust, becoming accessible through geological processes.
  • Another participant suggests looking for gold in alluvial plains formed under metamorphic rock.
  • One participant humorously claims that gold can be found approximately 3955 miles underground.
  • Another participant clarifies that their use of "formed" refers to the concentration of gold after its creation, not its initial formation.
  • Concerns are raised about the practicality and costs associated with starting a small-budget mining operation, with one participant emphasizing the need for significant investment and experience to yield reasonable returns.
  • There are doubts expressed about the feasibility of using wooden columns for mining, with a participant explaining the challenges of extracting gold from the ground effectively.
  • One participant suggests that panning for gold in streams might be a more viable option for small-scale gold extraction.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the depth at which gold can be found and the practicality of small-scale mining operations. There is no consensus on the specific depth or methods for mining gold, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the feasibility of such endeavors.

Contextual Notes

Some statements reflect uncertainty about the geological processes involved in gold deposition and the economic viability of small-scale mining. The discussion includes various assumptions about mining techniques and costs, which are not fully explored or resolved.

papajo
Messages
17
Reaction score
2
does this even make sense? I mean is gold located/formed in a specific depth range? or it virtually could be found anywhere?

the next question how to setup a relatively small budget mine with underground levels/rooms? :D
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
papajo said:
does this even make sense? I mean is gold located/formed in a specific depth range?

Gold is formed in stars by fusion. It got to Earth during the solar system's coalescence, and possibly some from meteors over billions of years.

You should read up on gold bearing veins

papajo said:
the next question how to setup a relatively small budget mine with underground levels/rooms? :D
On a small budget you might consider panning for it in streams. I doubt there is any such thing as a small budget mine.
 
I vaguely recall seeing a TV show years ago in which it was stated that as the Earth formed and cooled, gold was mostly deposited many miles down in the crust, not in the core, and that it was only through volcanic action and plate tectonics that some of it is now accessible on and near the surface.
 
try the alluvial plains formed under mountains of metamorphic rock.
 
papajo said:
does this even make sense? I mean is gold located/formed in a specific depth range? or it virtually could be found anywhere?
It can be found approximately 3955 miles underground.

papajo said:
the next question how to setup a relatively small budget mine with underground levels/rooms? :D
With a spade.

No money in gold, everyones solid.
 
thank you all for your responses

I would like to add that when i used the word "formed" i didnt mean how is gold created in terms of mater i was talking more about after its creation in terms of consetration

also about the mine budget i used also the word "relative" because i knew it would not be something cheap... i wondered if there were methods that would cost several thusands usd instead of several hundred thusand etc )like by using manpower wooden colums etc)
 
papajo said:
also about the mine budget i used also the word "relative" because i knew it would not be something cheap... i wondered if there were methods that would cost several thusands usd instead of several hundred thusand etc )like by using manpower wooden colums etc)

I don't know if you're seriously planning on starting a DIY gold mining company, and if this is the case I don't want to rain on any parades, but getting any yield of gold that would make reasonable returns on investments in mining means you need loads of money and a ton of experience.

Wooden columns? You'd get a few feet deep into soil before the cutting edges on the columns (I assume you're picturing tree-sized drill bits here...) would get dull. And wood can't exactly drill through stone.

Next, mining companies don't pull gold out of the ground in boulder-sized chunks that they shower off with a garden hose and then sell. They push thousands of tons of Earth and rock through systems that procedurally filter everything and extract the tiny flecks of gold that are laying about very, very sparsely. Flecks of gold that you'd mistake for grains of sand. Gold mining isn't something you do on weekends with a few friends and a chest-high block of wood. You'd be better off sieving from streams of water, but even then your yield would be so small that I'd bet my kidneys you'd earn many times as much money per hour selling fast food.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
958
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
3K
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 74 ·
3
Replies
74
Views
7K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
1K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K