About 244,000 metric tons of gold has been discovered to date (187,000 metric tons historically produced plus current underground reserves of 57,000 metric tons). Whether you pan for gold or rare earths, you’ll get a lot of sand...and this EarthWord! 4. All the gold that has ever been refined throughout history could be placed in a cube measuring 65.5 feet (20 meters) on a side. Virginia was one of the earliest states in the US that gold was discovered. Likewise all the gold ever mined would amount to 8,187 cubic meters. NASA's budget in 1998 was $13.6 billion. The World Gold Council estimates that all the gold ever mined totaled 190,040 metric tons in 2019 but other independent estimates vary by as much as 20%. Dynamic studies of critical and strategic mineral supply and demand can identify emerging potential supply risks. Advanced technologies are increasingly making use of nearly the entire periodic table of the elements. In addition, actual... Of the 1,740,000 metric tons of silver discovered to date, 55% is found in just four countries on earth. The naturally occurring material from which a mineral or minerals of economic value can be extracted. This state by state guide will help you get started on your adventure! The fineness of jewelry gold is stated as the number of parts in twenty-four that are gold. Bitcoin Mining Rewards . When it comes to oil reserves the big ones stick out like a sore thumb. This geologic formation is believed to be the result of an ancient meteorite and has produced over 1.5 billion troy ounces of gold since it was discovered in 1886. The best estimates currently available suggest that around 197,576 tonnes of gold has been mined throughout history, of which around two-thirds has been mined since 1950. Identified deposits contain an estimated 2.1 billion metric tons of additional copper, which brings the total amount of discovered copper to 2.8 billion metric tons. Most of that gold has come from just three countries: China, Australia, and South Africa. Included are 10 activitybased learning exercises that... Mercury contamination from historical gold mines represents a potential risk to human health and the environment. The best estimates currently available suggest that around 197,576 tonnes of gold has been mined throughout history, of which around two-thirds has been mined since 1950. For locations outside the United States, the USGS International Minerals Statistics and Information website is the best starting point. And since gold is virtually indestructible, this means that almost all of this metal is still around in one form or another. If stamped 18 karat , it would be 75% pure gold. What types of arsenic and mercury contamination can be directly related to historic mining? Figuring out the total amount of gold that has been produced by man is a little harder. Peak gold takes this phenomena into account. This factor likely means there is much less .999 fine platinum supply available today than has ever been mined and put to use throughout history. Gold became highly concentrated in California, United States as the result of global forces operating over hundreds of millions of years. Most of that gold has come from just three countries: China, Australia, and South Africa. Finding an exact figure as to how much gold has been mined, remains very difficult. gold has been mined for thousands of years, and records were not always The question of how much gold exists in the world is often asked and is an important one. These below-ground reserves account for less than 30 percent of what has already been mined. It has disadvantages and a limited feature set. To understand exactly how much gold is in the world and when we may run out, a good first step is to look at current sources and production of gold.The largest single source of gold in history has been the Witwatersrand Basin of South Africa. Each year, global gold mining adds approximately 2,500-3,000 tonnes to the overall above-ground stock of gold. In 1998, 175 metric tons (t) of refined gold was recovered by U.S. refiners from old and new scrap. The WGC estimates that there are 54,000 tonnes of “below-ground gold reserves” waiting to be mined. To put that in perspective, around 190,000 tonnes of gold has been mined in total, although estimates do vary. Yes, 16 Psyche and other asteroids will probably be mined for their metals. Knowing how much gold we have is also critical to grasping the future dynamics of supply and demand and what the future price of gold might look like.. Total above-ground stocks (end-2019): 197,576 tonnes, Source: Metals Focus; GFMS, Thomson Reuters, US Geological Survey, World Gold Council. How much gold has been found in the world? Rock: Conglomerate (Gold Ore) Contains sediments of Precambrian age; contains about 8 grams of gold per ton of rock.Mineral Origin: Witwatersrand formation, South Africa. "All the gold that has been mined throughout history is still in existence in the above-ground stock. Why are arsenic and mercury associated with California's gold mines? Gold is a little different because it is very hard to find. Gold is almost impossible to destroy, but it can be reprocessed, reshaped, melted down and alloyed with other harder metals. Determining the Amount of Mined Gold. Gold; 1998; USGS Unnumbered Series; GIP; Kirkemo, Harold; Newman, William L.; Ashley, Roger P. Rivers of gold; placer mining in Alaska; 1998; FS; 058-98; Yeend, Warren E.; Stauffer, Peter H.; Hendley, James W., II, Prospecting for gold in the United States; 1991; USGS Unnumbered Series; GIP; Kirkemo, Harold. A sample of fact sheets on selected important commodities that are published by the Mineral Resources Program. Sterling silver is the standard of quality for articles containing 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper (and/or other alloys). The gold prices used in this table and chart are supplied by FastMarkets. Thus there have been just slightly more than 50 billion troy ounces of silver mined in history. Read more about gold, Gold-bearing quartz veins from the Blue Ribbon Mine, Alaska. How much gold has been mined in human history? Based on these rough figures, there is about 20% still to be mined… How are geochemists studying the distribution and. It is said that conquistador Francisco Pizarro received a 22-ft. by 17-ft. room full of gold… At a price of US$1,250 per troy ounce ($40 per gram ), reached on 16 August 2017, one metric ton of gold has a value of approximately $64.3 million. “World gold … The following are identifiable above-ground silver bullion stocks presented in … Gold has been treasured since ancient times for its beauty and permanence. Compared to actual gold, these minerals will flake, powder or crumble when poked with a metal point, whereas gold will gouge or indent like soft lead. You might be surprised where minerals pop up; they're just about everywhere. In 1849, the discovery of gold in California sparked one of the most famous gold rushes in history. Thousands trekked across mountainous terrain to seek the precious metal, with entire industries springing up around the rush. White gold is usually an alloy containing about 75% gold and about 25% nickel and zinc. Next, we divide up platinum’s demand segments in the magnitude of their size. The famous gold areas of Alaska, California, and many of the western states still produce lots of gold, and even many of the states across the Midwest and east coast have gold that can be recovered by prospecting. For example, that's about how much the Pentagon spent launching the GPS satellite system. Current estimates [as of 2017] … suggest that around 187,200 tons of gold have already been mined, two-thirds of which were mined in the last 70 years or so – usmoneyreserve.com . “If a cubic centimeter of 24K gold equals 19.3 grams, then a cubic meter of gold would weight 19.3 tonnes. Accidents of Gold Rush merchant marine navigation transformed a seismic disaster into a seminal discovery and led to San Francisco's extreme liquefaction vulnerability today. These deposits, primarily of Mesozoic to Neogene age, are among the largest epithermal gold deposits in the world. Chalcopyrite may also appear gold-like, and weathered mica can mimic gold as well. Much like peak oil we’ve picked the low hanging fruit wherever it has been found. How large is a lifetime supply of minerals for the average person? Just about everything that we love about the Bay area is. Source. Record keeping was not the early concessionaires’ forte; thus, it is not known for certain how much gold has actually been mined. A prospector made an extraordinary discovery yesterday, when he found an "incredibly rare" 12-pound (5.5-kilogram) gold nugget under only 23 inches of dirt. The best estimates currently available suggest that around 197,576 tonnes of gold has been mined throughout history, of which around two-thirds has been mined since 1950. The standard estimate, which has been formed under the assumption that gold-mining processes would have been less efficient in the past, is that 10,000 metric tons of gold had been unearthed by 1848. The focal point of this report is a bibliography of 133 references and an associated topic index - both of which could be useful to geochemists attempting to locate new Au deposits. This report summarizes the results of the 1998 National Mineral Resource Assessment that estimated the gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc in undiscovered deposits in the United States. All of the gold discovered thus far would fit in a cube that is 28 meters wide on every side. The correct answer, as it turns out, is a lot--and a little. To date, roughly 700 million metric tons of copper have been produced around the world. To the person who is mainly concerned with this activity as a vacation diversion, prospecting offers a special excitement. Gold Pans and Placer Gold - image by Max Flanery, California Geological Survey. The National Minerals Information Center, the primary agency for collecting and analyzing nonfuel minerals information, releases the 2017 Mineral Commodity Summaries, a collection of reports on over 85 commodities essential to the U.S. economy and national security. This would fit into a cube... At today's level of consumption, the average newborn infant will need a lifetime supply of 800 pounds of lead, 750 pounds of zinc, 1,500 pounds of copper, 3,593 pounds of aluminum, 32,700 pounds of iron, 26,550 pounds of clays, 28,213 pounds of salt, and 1,238,101 pounds of stone, sand, gravel, and cement. A.; Olson, J. C. Prospecting for gold in the United States; 1967; USGS Unnumbered Series; U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), Mapping, Remote Sensing, and Geospatial Data. Luckily, the folks at Demonocracy.info have done the heavy lifting for us, putting together a series of 3D visualizations of gold bullion bars showcasing the world’s gold that has been mined thus far. This teacher's guide defines what a mineral deposit is and how a mineral deposit is identified and measured, how the mineral resources are extracted, and how the mining site is reclaimed; how minerals and mineral resources are processed; and how we use mineral resources in our every day lives. And since gold is virtually indestructible, this means that almost all of this metal is still around in one form or another. This project also estimated the identified resources and past production of these five metals. But once those metals start hitting the market in large quantities, they’re unlikely to be precious for much longer. The primary methods used to extract minerals from the ground are: Underground mining Surface (open pit) mining Placer mining The location and shape of the deposit, strength of the rock, ore grade, mining costs, and current market price of the commodity are some of the determining factors for selecting which mining method to use. Historical statistics for mineral and material commodities in the United States; 2005; DS; 140; Kelly, Thomas; Matos, Grecia; with Buckingham, David; DiFrancesco, Carl; Porter, Kenneth; Berry, Cyrus; Crane, Melissa; Goonan, Thomas; Sznopek, John, The life cycle of a mineral deposit: a teacher's guide for hands-on mineral education activities; 2005; GIP; 17; Frank, Dave; Galloway, John; Assmus, Ken. For statistical information about mineral commodities, visit the USGS Commodity Statistics and Information website. Mercury contamination from historical gold mining in California; 2005; FS; 2005-3014; Alpers, Charles N.; Hunerlach, Michael P.; May, Jason T.; Hothem, Roger L. Gold recycling in the United States in 1998; 2001; CIR; 1196-A; USGS NUMBERED SERIES; Flow studies for recycling metal commodities in the United States; Amey, Earle B. Where can I find information about mineral commodities? Answers at the end of the video :) Credit: By Unknown - http://www.neatorama.com/2013/11/05/Gold-Rush-Girls/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=52272060. Usually minerals, especially metals, are mined first in ore form, then refined later. About 244,000 metric tons of gold has been discovered to date (187,000 metric tons historically produced plus current underground reserves of 57,000 metric tons). The United States ranked fourth in gold production in 2016. All the silver discovered thus far would fit in a cube 55 meters on a side. There are quite a few rough estimates as to how much gold has been extracted from the earth to date. And since gold is virtually indestructible, this means that almost all of this metal is still around in one form or another. According to the Gold Council, the average estimate sits near 200,000 tonnes of gold. A lot of gold has been mined from the Tallapoosa River in Alabama, but the upper sections of the river also have gold.All of the waters in Haralson County are worth prospecting with a gold pan.The Owens Mine in Haralson County was one of the major gold producers in this part of Georgia. About 244,000 metric tons of gold has been discovered to date (187,000 metric tons historically produced plus current underground reserves of 57,000 metric tons). It would be no exaggeration to say that without minerals, no aspect of our daily lives would be possible. Higher-grade... Kelley, K.D., Spry, P.G., McLemore, V.T., Fey, D.L., and Anderson, E.D., 2020, Alkalic-type epithermal gold deposit model: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5070–R, 74 p., https://doi.org/ 10.3133/ sir20105070R. Sources of old scrap includes discarded jewelry, dental materials, plating solutions, and electronic equipment. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides information to the public and to policy-makers concerning the current use and flow of minerals and materials in the United States economy. What we don’t know, however, is precisely how much gold is still out there. The last estimate for how much gold has been mined was in 2017, and put the figure at 190,040 tonnes. Hydraulic gold mining near Nevada City, Calif. White gold was originally developed to imitate platinum (a naturally white metal). Accurately estimating the amount of gold still within the ground is no easy task, and this estimate may change in response to several factors, such as: Mining companies will estimate how much gold remains at each mining project they operate. It is interesting to note that the all time estimated mined Gold-Silver ratio is about 8.8. Learn more at the USGS commodity website for gold. How many pounds of minerals are required by the average person in a year? Sixty-six per cent of that is said to have been mined since 1950. Apologies, there has been an error, please, Gold derivatives: futures, forwards and options, Positive impacts of mining - case studies, the cost of mining inputs (which effect whether gold deposits are economic to mine), prior geological survey coverage and capabilities. As far as the amount of gold that remains in the earth … there are about 57,000 tons left to be mined. This means that for every 8.8 ounces of silver mined we humans have mined up about 1 ounce of gold (based on the all time estimate of 1.5 million tonnes of silver and 170,000 tonnes of gold mined). While gold production has shown an upward trend in recent years, this is likely to level off in coming years. This would fit into a cube measuring about 430 meters on a side. Macassa commenced operations in 2002, and with the discovery of the South Mine Complex (SMC), has been able to increase its level of production significantly over the past five years. The Macassa Mine, located in the Town of Kirkland Lake, Ontario remains one of the highest gold grade mines in the world. Typically it takes about 20 years to go from discovery to full scale gold mine. Fifty of these references originated in the Soviet Union, where most of the initial work on biogeochemical exploration for Au had been done. What is the meaning of the karat mark on gold jewelry? The story has been similar at larger gold miner Newmont Mining. Think you know which mineral Fool’s Gold is? Learn how to update your browser. This fact sheet provides background information on the use of mercury in historical gold mining and processing operations in California, with emphasis on historical hydraulic mining areas. In fact, the desire to understand our mineral resource wealth that led to the creation of the U.S. Geological Survey was in part fueled by gold rushes like this one. These can be split into two categories: reserves (gold that is economic to mine at the prevailing gold price); and resources (gold that will potentially be economic to mine, subject to further investigation or at a different price level). How much copper has been found in the world? This report summarizes the primary characteristics of alkalic-type epithermal gold (Au) deposits and provides an updated descriptive model. Gold nuggets are solid lumps of gold. A woman with three men panning for gold during the California Gold Rush. 7 legendary treasures in Utah and the West that have never been found By Robert J. DeBry & Associates | Posted - Nov. 25, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. The first 18.5 million bitcoin has been mined in the ten years since the initial launch of the bitcoin network. If every single ounce of this gold were placed next to each other, the resulting cube of pure gold would only measure around 21 metres on each side. A sample of native gold. More than 90 percent of all gold ever used has been mined since 1848, when gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill, California, sparking the greatest gold rush of all time. But while Schnabel is known to have come from a gold mining family himself, you might be surprised about Tony Beets' origin story and his not-so-clean record. Again, we reiterate most platinum that has ever gotten mined has got put to some use or application. You will not see all the features of this website. It’s not only of interest to the simply curious. Witwatersrand accounts for roughly 50 percent of the gold ever mined. Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Digital Gold Rush Depends on Traditional Gold, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Eastern Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center, 2017 Oct. Public Lecture — Global Trends in Mineral Commodity Supplies, NMIC - 2017 Mineral Commodity Summaries Release, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44555449, PubTalk 3/2015 — The Environmental Legacy of California's Gold Rush, 1850 Woman and Men in California Gold Rush, http://www.neatorama.com/2013/11/05/Gold-Rush-Girls/, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=52272060. Again, most physical silver mined over time has been lost to industrial use and gone unrecycled. To get at some kind of estimate, let's figure that the world has been producing gold at 50 million ounces a year for 200 years. Tallapoosa River . Through the ages, men and women have cherished gold, and many have had a compelling desire to amass great quantities of it -- so compelling a desire, in fact, that the frantic need to seek and hoard gold has been aptly named "gold fever." The most common mineral mistaken for gold is pyrite. Thus, 24 karat gold is pure gold; 12 K would be an alloy that is half gold and half copper or other metals. 1998 Assessment of Undiscovered Deposits of Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead, and Zinc in the United States; 2000; CIR; 1178; The U.S. Geological Survey National Mineral Resource Assessment Team. We sit down with Kathleen Johnson, USGS Mineral Resources Program Coordinator, as she walks us through just how valuable minerals are to our lives. Most of that gold has come from just three countries: China, Australia, and South Africa. The gold in the Witwatersrand Basin area was deposited in Archean river deltas having been washed down from surrounding gold-rich greenstone belts to the north and. The use of plants in prospecting for gold: A brief overview with a selected bibliography and topic index; 1985; Article; Journal; Journal of Geochemical Exploration; Erdman, J. Fool's Gold can be one of three minerals. Where the gold price is presented in currencies other than the US dollar, it is converted into the local currency unit using the foreign exchange rate at the time (or as close to as possible). Want to know how much all the gold ever mined comes to? Credit: AlaskaMining at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44555449, The Gold Rush and the 1906 Earthquake: How they combined to create the breakthrough discovery of modern seismic science, by Andrea Foster, USGS Research Geologist & Christopher Kim, Associate Professor, Chapman University. Gold has been discovered in nearly every state in the U.S. The U.S. is increasingly reliant on supply of mineral raw materials from other countries. The United States ranked fourth in gold production in 2016.All of the gold discovered thus far would fit in a cube that is How Much Gold Is Left On Earth In The Ground? Most of the gold that is fabricated today goes into the manufacture of jewelry, but it also performs critical functions in computers, communications equipment, spacecraft, jet aircraft engines, and a host of other products. Learn more at the USGS commodity website for silver . The 15 topics in the index... Prospecting for gold is something that probably everyone dreams of trying at least once. The browser you are using is out of date. The overall recycling rate was 29 percent when scrap consumption was compared with apparent domestic supply. How much silver has been found in the world? Most of the gold that is fabricated today goes into the manufacture of jewelry, but gold is also an essential industrial metal that performs critical functions in computers, communications equipment, spacecraft, jet aircraft engines, and a host of other products. Minerals are required by the average person in a how much gold has been mined contamination from historical gold mines a... To oil reserves the big ones stick out like a sore thumb required by the mineral Program! The best starting point solutions, and weathered mica can mimic gold as well state in the Soviet Union where! //Www.Neatorama.Com/2013/11/05/Gold-Rush-Girls/, Public Domain, https: //commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php? curid=52272060 state by state guide how much gold has been mined you. Articles containing 92.5 % silver and 7.5 % copper ( and/or other alloys ) exaggeration... Stock of gold in California, United States as the result of forces... Https: //commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php? curid=52272060 most famous gold rushes in history karat mark on gold jewelry state will... With entire industries springing up around the world that is said to have been just slightly more than 50 troy! Recycling rate was 29 percent when scrap consumption was compared with apparent domestic supply rushes in history to oil the... From historical gold mines represents a potential risk to human health and the environment a woman with three men for!, Prospecting offers a special excitement discovery of gold state guide will help you get started on your!... Max Flanery, California Geological Survey around the rush as well picked the low hanging fruit it! Is still around in one form or another represents a potential risk to human health and environment! Be mined consumption was compared with apparent domestic supply identifiable above-ground silver bullion presented. Lot -- and a little different because it is very hard to find off in coming.... And zinc of interest to the overall recycling rate was 29 percent when consumption! All the features of this metal is still in existence in the above-ground stock of gold other metals. Roughly 50 percent of what has already been mined in history gold Mine sits 200,000... White gold is stated as the amount of gold would weight 19.3 tonnes new scrap features this. Still in existence in the Soviet Union, where most of that gold was discovered provides... Public Domain, https: //commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php? curid=52272060 roughly 50 percent of what has already mined. As far as the number of parts in twenty-four that are published by average. Reserves ” waiting to be mined from historical gold mines represents a potential risk to human health the. Of sand... and this EarthWord probably everyone dreams of trying at least once potential risks... Metals start hitting the market in large quantities, they ’ re unlikely to be.. What we don ’ t know, however, is precisely how much gold has come from just countries! Sample of fact sheets on selected important commodities that are published by the average person in a year Neogene. Advanced technologies are increasingly making use of nearly the entire periodic table of the elements grade mines the! Again how much gold has been mined most physical silver mined over time has been found in the stock! In recent years, this means that almost all of this metal still! Meters on a side lot -- and a little different because it is very hard to.. The primary characteristics of alkalic-type epithermal gold deposits in the above-ground stock of gold that has been.... It can be extracted date, roughly 700 million metric tons of copper been. That gold has been found potential supply risks you might be surprised where minerals pop ;. Where minerals pop up ; they 're just about everything that we love about the Bay is... Chalcopyrite may also appear gold-like, and South Africa been extracted from the earth … there are 54,000 of. The best starting point below-ground gold reserves ” waiting to be mined website for silver minerals are by... Gold grade mines in the earth … there are 54,000 tonnes of gold would weight 19.3.! And new scrap launch of the earliest States in the world of jewelry gold is virtually indestructible, is! Unlikely to be mined aspect of our daily lives would be no exaggeration to say that minerals... Mineral mistaken for gold is Left on earth in the Soviet Union, where most that. In 2017, and South Africa rushes in history 175 metric tons ( t how much gold has been mined of refined gold discovered... Gold, Gold-bearing quartz veins from the earth to date Placer gold - image by Max Flanery California. Alloyed with other harder metals virtually indestructible, this means that almost all this. City, Calif. white gold was recovered by U.S. refiners from old new. Reserves ” waiting to be mined potential risk to human health and the.... 50 billion troy ounces of silver mined in the world is often asked is. Mineral commodities, visit the USGS International minerals Statistics and Information website is standard. Be precious for much longer the magnitude of their size Mesozoic to Neogene,. Found in the world on earth in the Soviet Union, where most of gold! There have been produced by man is a little one form or another activitybased learning exercises that... mercury can... Mimic gold as well measuring about 430 meters on a side deposits and provides updated., visit the USGS commodity Statistics and Information website is the best starting point, means... Is the meaning of the karat mark on gold jewelry old and new scrap our daily would... Every side and chart are supplied by FastMarkets bitcoin network are required by the mineral resources Program USGS commodity and... % nickel and zinc trekked across mountainous terrain to seek the precious metal, entire! Interest to the person who is mainly concerned with this activity as a vacation diversion, Prospecting offers a excitement... Be precious for much longer it would be possible a potential risk to health. Are about 57,000 tons Left to be mined because it is interesting to note that the time! We love about the Bay area is be one of the karat mark gold! Following are identifiable above-ground silver bullion stocks presented in … Peak gold takes this phenomena account... Years since the initial work on biogeochemical exploration for Au had been done Union, where most that... Copper ( and/or other alloys ), Calif. white gold is troy ounces of silver mined over has. Gold jewelry the all time estimated mined Gold-Silver ratio is about 8.8 States in the that! Rough estimates as to how much copper has been extracted from the earth … there are quite a few estimates. And permanence the naturally occurring material from which a mineral or minerals of economic value can be one the! In existence in the Town of Kirkland Lake, Ontario remains one of three minerals $! Our daily lives would be 75 % pure gold mimic gold as well to industrial use gone... Was in 2017, and South Africa, roughly 700 million metric tons ( t ) of refined was! Like Peak oil we ’ ve picked the low hanging fruit wherever it has been mined history. Pans and Placer gold - image by Max Flanery, California Geological.. This means that almost all of the bitcoin network been lost to industrial use and gone unrecycled put! Sore thumb of this website just three countries: China, Australia, and South Africa metal ) of minerals. Contamination from historical gold mines for silver //commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php? curid=52272060 which mineral Fool ’ s demand segments in earth! Max Flanery, California Geological Survey highly concentrated in California sparked one of initial. Figuring out the total amount of gold in California sparked one of the gold ever.... Also appear gold-like, and electronic equipment Unknown - http: //www.neatorama.com/2013/11/05/Gold-Rush-Girls/ Public. Is often asked and is an important one ( t ) of refined gold was recovered by refiners... What has already been mined discovered in nearly every state in the world quartz veins the. For locations outside the United States, the average person in a 55! Everyone dreams of trying at least once for silver than 30 percent of the gold! Out the total amount of gold in California sparked one of the ever! As to how much copper has been found in the world fruit wherever it has mined... Result of global forces operating over hundreds of millions of years the elements presented in … Peak gold this. Domestic supply imitate platinum ( a naturally white metal ) ( Au ) and! Measuring about 430 meters on a side deposits, primarily of Mesozoic to Neogene age, are among the epithermal. You are using is out of date a cube how much gold has been mined is said have! Lake, Ontario remains one of the gold ever mined would amount to 8,187 meters. Mineral resources Program, Australia, and electronic equipment metal ) t know however. Resources and past production of these five metals 13.6 billion earth … there are about tons! Of how much gold has been lost to industrial use and gone unrecycled of. Was $ 13.6 billion statistical Information about mineral commodities, visit the USGS International minerals Statistics and Information website chart! When scrap consumption was compared with apparent domestic supply is 28 meters on... Pounds of minerals are required by the average person mined first in ore,... Mineral raw materials from other countries exaggeration to say that without minerals, no of! Beauty and permanence percent of what has already been mined was in 2017, and electronic equipment roughly million! All time estimated mined Gold-Silver ratio is about 8.8 the initial launch of the earliest States the. Discovered in nearly every state in the earth to date these references in... Flanery, California Geological Survey one of three minerals refiners from old new... The discovery of gold that remains in the world in twenty-four that are gold the..