9781422285565

INTRODUCTION M ore than any other elements, gold and silver have fascinated humankind for centuries. These rare metals are the rock stars of the mineral world. But, in fact, humans have extracted only 161,000 tons (146,057 metric tons) of gold during all of human history— not enough to fill two Olympic-sized swimming pools. Civilizations learned long ago to mold these malleable precious metals into coins, religious artifacts, architectural designs, and jewelry. Gold can be pounded into strands as thin as a human hair, and silver can be twisted and turned into rings and necklaces. Each can be fired

An advertisement for a clipper ship bound for California shows Gold Rush miners hard at work. (G.F. Nesbitt & Co./Wikimedia)

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