Gold, Earth's very own starmetal or warpstone?

[Kaodi]

What confuses me is how various elements become concentrated together and crystallize. I mean, there must be more to the story than just " dust " because why would it necessarily be the case that like dust would attract like dust to become larger forms?

 

[Umbran]

What confuses me is how various elements become concentrated together and crystallize. I mean, there must be more to the story than just " dust " because why would it necessarily be the case that like dust would attract like dust to become larger forms?

Well, it is only dust attracting dust when it is out in space as dust. And then,you're right - dust is dust, and gravity pulls it together.

Once it is together in a mass, though, then things change - then you aren't talking gravity, you're talking chemistry and thermodynamics. Those are the processes that yield the results.

Consider it like distilling, but with metals instead of alcohol, and you'll start seeing the idea.

 

[S'mon]

Interesting link - I often wondered how there was so much heavy metal near Earth's surface, when it should have all sunk down into the core when the planet was still molten (that's why Earth has a mostly silicate crust over the mostly iron core). This appears to explain it - the heavy metals we find near the surface arrived after the planet had already solidified.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I often wondered how there was so much heavy metal near Earth's surface

I blame the Danes. \m/ \m/

 

[jimmifett]

I've also read that recently a bacteria has been discovered that is immune to heavy element toxicity and actually breaks down isolated gold into nanoparticles and bundles them together in cracks and crevices where the bacteria take up residence.

 

[DMH]

if normal gold had its own in-game taint the more you accumulated it? Sure, you can buy more stuff, . . . but is it really worth the result?

Could this be a reason for the creation/evolution of dragons? Are they gold tainted dinosaurs? If so, what does that mean for the (much younger) humanoids?

If gold has a negative taint, does silver have a positive one? It corrodes where gold does not- is there an implication there?

Is vegetable gold (the old idea that gold grows in the ground) real? Is gold expanding, will it eventually replace the other minerals in the planet? Are there other metals that it competes with?

How would this impact an earth elemental made of gold? Can it cause intelligent creatures to just stand there in awe and desire?

 

[S'mon]

If gold has a negative taint, does silver have a positive one? It corrodes where gold does not- is there an implication there?

Silver corrodes? My silver wedding ring hasn't corroded, and I've been wearing it 7 years now. Don't tell me it's been tainted by the ineffable touch of the alien star metal - GOLD?!?!

 

[Achan hiArusa]

The Earth also has the secondary effect of the proto-Earth/Theia impact which formed the Earth-Moon system and gave the Earth a larger than normal Iron core and the Moon a smaller than normal one. We have a proportionally higher magnetic field than the other terrestrial planets because of that.

I think the largest element to be detected in a supernova explosion was the "artificial" element Californium.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Silver corrodes?

Silver oxidizes very slowly, going from that desirable pure white to a pale brown to blue to black.

However, there are different "recipes" for the alloys used to make the sterling silver used in jewelry. Some alloys contain platinum-series metals- platinum, palladium, osmium, rhodium or iridium- and tarnish extremely slowly. I have a ring I designed in 1999 that needs to be polished every month.

OTOH, a ring I designed in 2005 needs polishing only a couple times a year, and my mom owns a necklace bought back in the 1970s she's only polished a few times.

 

[S'mon]

Silver oxidizes very slowly, going from that desirable pure white to a pale brown to blue to black.

However, there are different "recipes" for the alloys used to make the sterling silver used in jewelry. Some alloys contain platinum-series metals- platinum, palladium, osmium, rhodium or iridium- and tarnish extremely slowly. I have a ring I designed in 1999 that needs to be polished every month.

OTOH, a ring I designed in 2005 needs polishing only a couple times a year, and my mom owns a necklace bought back in the 1970s she's only polished a few times.

I've never polished my wedding ring in 7 years - it occasionally gets a black patina after a dip in the pool (I think it's if the chlorine levels are off, or some other pool chemical) but it soon turns back silvery again.

Of course it is Kalevala jewelry, from Finland - that Vainamoinen knows a thing or two, I hear.