Unlocking the Mystery: Discover How Much Gold Exists in the World Today!

Gold is a fascinating metal. It’s not just beautiful; it’s rare and valuable. Interestingly, its origins are cosmic. Gold forms when neutron stars collide in space. But how much of it is on Earth, and just how rare is it?

Humans have mined a substantial amount of gold—around 206,000 tons according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). That’s about 187,000 metric tons, and a lot of it has been transformed into jewelry. By contrast, the World Gold Council gives a slightly higher estimate: about 238,391 tons (or 216,265 metric tons). Picture a cube about 72 feet wide—that’s how much gold we’ve extracted so far. Most of it goes into jewelry, but a significant chunk is stored as bars and coins.

Despite the massive amounts we’ve mined, there’s still gold underground. The USGS’s latest report notes about 70,550 tons (64,000 metric tons) of gold in reserves that can be economically extracted. Major sources include Russia, Australia, and South Africa. Interestingly, in 2024, China led the world in gold extraction.

Gold comes in two categories: reserves and resources. Reserves are what can be mined profitably, while resources are deposits we know less about. The World Gold Council estimates there are about 60,370 tons of reserves and around 145,626 tons in resources worldwide.

When we total these figures, we find between 277,000 to 299,000 tons (or 251,000 to 271,000 metric tons) of gold in known deposits and objects. But it’s essential to note that these estimates have their uncertainties.

Interestingly, much of Earth’s gold is not easily found. It’s dispersed in small quantities across the planet, including in seawater and various rocks. Studies show only a tiny concentration of gold exists in the Earth’s crust—about 4 parts per billion, meaning the crust only holds around 441 million tons (400 million metric tons). In comparison, the gold in Earth’s core is astronomically larger. Geologists believe 99% of all gold is trapped there, enough to cover the planet with a layer over 1.5 feet thick!

This brings us to a historical perspective. The majority of gold we find today came from what scientists call the “Late Heavy Bombardment”—a period billions of years ago when Earth was bombarded by meteorites. This event is thought to have contributed to the precious metals we find in the crust today.

Chris Voisey, an expert in geology, explains that most of Earth’s gold sank to the core during its formation due to its density. Only the gold that didn’t sink remains accessible for mining and exploration. Since then, the amount of gold on Earth has stayed relatively stable; meteorite impacts are not a significant source anymore.

Due to the chaotic nature of geological processes, the total amount of gold on Earth may never be entirely known. As Voisey notes, it’s tough to gauge all that could be hidden underground.

In summary, while we’ve mined a lot of gold, much remains below the surface. Understanding gold’s rarity and distribution gives us a deeper appreciation for this valuable metal.

Source link