Where is gold extracted?

 

Where is gold extracted?


Good question — gold is extracted from the earth in places called gold mines. These are found in many countries around the world, especially where there are rich natural deposits of gold in the ground.

Some of the top gold-producing countries are:

  • China
  • Australia
  • Russia
  • United States (like in Nevada and Alaska)
  • Canada
  • South Africa

Gold can be found:

  • In rocks underground (hard rock mining)
  • In riverbeds and streams (placer mining)
  • Mixed with other minerals in the soil

Miners dig deep into the ground, crush rocks, and use processes like panning, sluicing, or chemical extraction to separate the gold from the other materials.


Would you like to know more about how the extraction process works too?



Great — let’s break it down simply!

Gold extraction is the process of taking gold out of rocks, soil, or river sediments. There are a few main ways it’s done:

1. Panning (Traditional Method)

  • Used in rivers and streams.
  • Miners scoop up sand and gravel in a pan.
  • They swirl it around with water — the heavier gold settles at the bottom while the lighter sand washes away.

2. Hard Rock Mining

  • Miners dig tunnels deep into the earth to reach gold ore (rocks with gold inside them).
  • The rocks are crushed into small pieces.
  • Gold is separated from the rock using chemicals like cyanide or mercury (though mercury is dangerous and less common now).

3. Placer Mining

  • Gold is collected from riverbeds or sand deposits.
  • Tools like sluice boxes and dredges wash away dirt and trap the heavy gold.

4. Open-Pit Mining

  • Huge open holes are dug in the ground.
  • Large machines remove rock and dirt.
  • The ore is crushed, and gold is extracted using chemicals or heat.

5. Chemical Extraction

  • Crushed rock is mixed with cyanide solution which dissolves the gold.
  • The gold-rich liquid is collected, and gold is separated from the liquid by adding zinc or using electric current (electrowinning).