Ask A Scientist Chemistry Archive

name         Ken
status       other
grade        other
location     CA

Question -   How is gold FORMED? Slow neutron capture? As a
daughter of radioactive decay? In the center of a supernova? I know
gold is concentrated by the action of high pressure solutions of
supersaturated water suddenly losing pressure and cooling at
hydrothermal vents/rock fractures, thus precipitating quartz and
gold in veins during the boiling off of the water.
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Almost all (>99.9999999999999999%) the gold in the universe is produced in
supernova explosions. All the elements beyond iron on the periodic chart are
formed in supernova.  Very small amounts of heavy elements can be created
from other elements by humans using cyclotrons and nuclear reactors.

Peter Faletra
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