From Exploration to Rehabilitation: the Life of a Gold Mine
Uses of gold
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From Exploration to Rehabilitation: the Life of a Gold Mine
Investment bars
Gold bullion
An ideal investment
Most central banks
hold gold as a
reserve asset
Gold and how it is used
Gold can be kept as a gold bar and used for investment purposes. Most central banks
and other official bodies hold gold as part of their external resources. This is because gold
is such a secure asset. It is an asset that can actually be seen and touched and it is
indestructible.
The beauty of gold is that it is universal and is often used in political or economic crises
because gold is valuable throughout the world.
Gold bars are not just held by large companies and central banks but are also available to
the private collector as well. A hundred ounce bar is worth close to A$60 000.
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From Exploration to Rehabilitation: the Life of a Gold Mine
Gold alloys
Gold alloys are used
in the jewellery
industry in the form
of sheet, wire,
granules, solders, and
discs
Gold alloys in the jewellery industry are a common use of gold. Gold is used because it is
highly malleable and easy to manipulate. This is why gold is the prime choice for jewellery
because its versatility makes it perfect to create the most exquisite pieces.
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From Exploration to Rehabilitation: the Life of a Gold Mine
Jewellery
Watches
Rings
Bracelets
Pendants
Brooches
Anklets
Nose rings
Eyebrow rings
There are so many different types of jewellery. Gold is used in the manufacture of many
different types of jewellery, including watches, rings, bracelets, anklets, eyebrow rings,
nose rings. The beauty of gold is that it doesnt rust, doesnt corrode, doesnt turn your
skin green, and it looks absolutely beautiful.
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From Exploration to Rehabilitation: the Life of a Gold Mine
Catalysts
Paints
Glue
Removing odours
Improving air
quality
Picture used with permission from World Gold Council
A catalyst is a substance that accelerates the rate of chemical reaction without being
consumed in the reaction.
Gold alloy catalysts are used in the production of paints and glue. Gold catalysts also
have the potential to remove nitrogen oxide from diesel engine exhausts. Gold catalysts
are now also being trialled to help improve the air quality in underground mining
environments.
An interesting and new use of gold catalysts is that they are now being used to remove
odours from public toilets in Japan.
From Exploration to Rehabilitation: the Life of a Gold Mine
Reflective ability
The reflective ability of gold makes it the ideal for substance for many different uses.
Space shuttles are covered with a thin sheet of gold to help improve the crafts reflective
ability. Astronauts are provided with gold sunglasses to protect their eyes from direct
sunlight.
Cockpit windows have a thin film of gold over them to reflect the harmful effects of the
suns rays. Gold has been used over the years to adorn buildings because its resistance
to corrosion will outlast paint every time.
It is also used in modern buildings to cover windows because it helps retain heat in winter
and reflects it in summer. It is thought to cut heating and cooling costs by 40%. One
ounce of gold will cover 1000 sq. feet of glass.
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From Exploration to Rehabilitation: the Life of a Gold Mine
Electronics
Calculators
Mobile phones
Washing machines
Automotive
electronics
Missiles
Spacecraft
The merits of gold are unparalleled. Gold is malleable, ductile, deflectable, it is resistant to
corrosion, and is the a great conductor of electricity.
We come into contact with gold every single day and probably dont even realise it. In the
morning when your alarm clock goes off, its got gold in it. Also your microwave, your
washing machine, your television, calculators and mobile phones. Some DVDS and
recordable CD-Roms also have gold within their construction. In the electronics industry
gold is an irreplaceable substance.
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From Exploration to Rehabilitation: the Life of a Gold Mine
Automotives
Ignition control
electrics
Anti-lock
breaking systems
Electronic fuel
injectors
Crash sensors for
air bags
Even cars now use gold in their electrics. Ignition control electrics, anti-lock braking
systems, electronic fuel injectors, and even the crash sensors for air bags have gold
connectors.
The malleability and ductility of gold as well as its conductive properties make it a very
useful and reliable metal.
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From Exploration to Rehabilitation: the Life of a Gold Mine
Medicine
Rheumatoid arthritis
Cancer treatments
Liver, ear, and eye
diseases
Drug delivery
microchips
Pacemakers
Inner ear implants
Pictures used with kind permission from World Gold Council
Gold has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. It has now become
obvious to our medical population that there are many medicinal uses for gold. Gold
injections are used to help alleviate the pain of arthritis.
Inner ear implants are now also made out of gold. Golds resistance to bacterial infection
make it perfect for implants. Wires to pacemakers are also made out of gold.
Gold dust in the form of tablets is said to relieve you of fatigue and depression. It has now
also become the focus for new trials in the treatment of cancer.
One of the latest uses of gold is drug-delivery microchips that are injected or swallowed
into the body. These chips contain drug-filled reservoirs that are covered with a thin gold
membranes. The drugs are then released into the system at the required time.
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From Exploration to Rehabilitation: the Life of a Gold Mine
Dentistry
Golds malleability and resistance
to corrosion make it ideal for
dentistry
Pictures used with kind permission of World Gold Council
In dentistry, gold is a very popular substance. The malleability of gold makes it perfect to
create false teeth, caps or crowns. As far back as the 7th century the Etruscans used
gold to secure false teeth into their mouths to replace the ones that were lost.
From Exploration to Rehabilitation: the Life of a Gold Mine
Art and religion
Religious artefacts have for thousands of years been made from gold. The most famous
piece of gold is probably the face mask of the boy king of Egypt, Tutankhamen.
Gold leaf is used in many paintings and is also used to decorate glass and fine china.
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From Exploration to Rehabilitation: the Life of a Gold Mine
Gold plating
Pens
Watches
Trophies
Bathroom
fittings
Spectacle
frames
Trophies are a popular gold-plated item but it is interesting to note that the Soccer World
Cup trophy is actually 36 cm of solid gold.
Many of the things we use around the house can be gold plated.
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From Exploration to Rehabilitation: the Life of a Gold Mine
Gold
Numerous uses
Beautiful but not just
ornamental
The uses of gold are numerous. Gold has gone far beyond being just an ornamental
element. Its uses are becoming essential to our modern environment. So without gold we
would be leading very different lives. A life less technologically advanced and definitely a
world less beautiful.
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