What is Gold? Definition, History & Characteristics of Gold
Gold (chemical symbol: Au) is one of the world’s most valued and scientifically unique metals. It has been used as a medium of exchange and a store of wealth for more than three millennia, prized for its rarity, beauty, and resistance to corrosion. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), gold occurs naturally in the Earth’s crust and is typically found in native metallic form, often alongside quartz or sulfide minerals. Because it is chemically stable, nearly all gold ever mined still exists in some form today.
1. Rarity and Formation
Gold is considered a scarce element. The USGS estimates that only a few parts per billion of the Earth’s crust contain gold, making it extremely rare to locate and extract. It is produced naturally by geological processes such as hydrothermal activity, volcanic emissions, and sedimentary concentration. Its natural resistance to weathering allows placer deposits to form, where gold particles accumulate in riverbeds or alluvial layers.
2. Chemical and Physical Properties
Gold has very distinct physical and chemical characteristics that make it ideal for monetary and industrial use:
- Element symbol: Au (from the Latin word aurum).
- Atomic number: 79.
- Melting point: 1,063°C (1,946°F).
- Boiling point: approximately 2,856°C (5,173°F).
- Density: 19.3 g/cm³ — among the densest of all metals.
- Color: Naturally metallic yellow with distinctive luster.
- Reactivity: Does not tarnish or rust because it is inert to air, water, and most chemicals, including oxygen and hydrogen sulfide.
Gold dissolves only in specific chemical mixtures such as cyanide solutions (used in modern refining) or aqua regia — a concentrated mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids. These properties make it highly stable and ideal for long-term storage of value.
3. Industrial and Scientific Importance
Beyond investment and jewelry, gold is used in advanced applications such as electronics, medical devices, and aerospace due to its superior conductivity and corrosion resistance. The U.S. National Institutes of Health (PubChem) database provides detailed chemical data confirming gold’s inertness and biocompatibility, which is why it is used in implants and precision circuits.
4. Durability and Longevity
Gold’s indestructibility is one of its most important traits. It does not oxidize or decay over time, allowing ancient artifacts — such as coins and jewelry — to survive thousands of years in near-perfect condition. This remarkable stability is what makes gold a natural choice for wealth preservation throughout human history.
Disclaimer: This article provides general educational and scientific information about gold’s natural and chemical characteristics. It references publicly available data from reputable institutions including the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Institutes of Health. GoldPriceZ makes no guarantees about external content, and external links may change or be updated by their respective organizations.
Last Updated: 15 November 2025
Silver Purity/types:
Unlike gold, silver is typically not classified by karats. Instead, silver purity is usually expressed as a percentage or parts per thousand. The most common purities are:
- Fine Silver (99.9%): Used in investment-grade bullion, coins, and bars.
- Sterling Silver (92.5%): Common in jewelry, silverware, and decorative items.
- Coin Silver (90%): Previously used in coins, now less common.
- Other Alloys: Lower purity silver used in budget or industrial applications.
Silver purity is often marked with stamps like "999," "925," or "900" to indicate the purity level.
- About Silver Types (in Detail),- Methodologies, and References
Description of Weight Units:
| Weight Unit | Equivalent in Grams |
|---|---|
| Kilogram | 1000 |
| Baht | 15.244 |
| Tola | 11.664 |
| Vori (Bori) | 11.664 |
| Tael | 37.429 |
| Pennyweight | 1.555 |
| Pound | 453.592 |
| Mithqal | 4.688 |
| Ratti | 0.121 |
| Carat | 0.2 |
| Masha | 3.885 |
| Troy Ounce(Ounce) | 31.1035 |
Description for currency:
Select your preferred currency to view silver prices. Prices are available in major global currencies like USD, EUR, GBP, and more. Choosing the correct currency ensures you see accurate and up-to-date pricing based on the exchange rate for your location or preference.
Live Silver Price Chart:
Use the duration options to view silver price trends over different time periods. 'Today' shows the current day's price movements, while '7 Days,' 'Month,' and '30 Days' provide recent trends. 'YTD' (Year-to-Date) and '1 Year' offer a longer-term view. Select 'More' for additional timeframes and detailed analysis.
This performance section provides an overview of silver price trends. The Summary tab offers an at-a-glance view with color-coded trend indicators showing percentage changes across key time horizons.
The Amount tab displays absolute value changes in both USD (global benchmark) and local currency, along with exchange rate movements, enabling precise profit/loss calculations.
The Percent tab reveals relative growth rates, essential for comparing silver's performance against other assets and inflation.
The History tab provides anchor price points on specific dates, supporting technical analysis and investment strategy backtesting.
Together, these tabs offer investors, jewelers, and economists multidimensional insights into silver's behavior across timeframes and currency perspectives.
Live Silver Price Calculator:
This tool estimates silver values using live market rates. Enter your silver weight, select a measurement unit (grams, tolas, ounces, etc.), and choose any currency. Click "Calculate" for instant valuation based on current prices. You can also switch tabs to value gold or convert currencies. All calculations reflect real-time market data for accurate precious metal valuation.
About this timestamp
The time shown here indicates when the price data was last fetched from our server. It is not the exact moment of a retail sale or trade, and may differ slightly from jewellery shops or live trading platforms because of data provider timing and currency conversion.
For transparency, full details of how prices are calculated and updated are available in the Reference section. There you can see the data sources, update frequency, and notes on what is included or excluded.
Silver Price Comparison by Purity:
This tool compares live silver prices across different purity levels and weight units. Switch between tabs to see values per ounce, gram, tola, or select "More" for units like baht, tael, etc. Each table shows today's current, lowest, and highest prices for every purity type in your chosen currency. Use the dropdown filters to focus on specific purities, switch weight measurements, or convert values to any global currency.
Silver Market Price Tool
This section shows live silver pricing with bid/ask spreads and customization options. View real-time market rates for different purity levels using the top tabs. The table displays three key prices per gram:
1. Current Price: Latest market rate
2. Bid Price: What buyers offer
3. Ask Price: What sellers request
Adjust the spread percentage to see how dealer margins affect prices, or add labor costs for jewelry valuation. Use the dropdowns to switch between purity levels, weight units, or currencies for international comparisons.
Silver Quantity Calculator Guide
This tool calculates silver prices for specific quantities in Pakistani Rupees. Select a weight unit (grams, tolas, ounces) using the tabs, or choose other units like "baht", "tael", etc. from the "More" dropdown. The table instantly shows spot, buy, and sell prices for common quantities (1, 5, 10 units) and allows custom quantity entry.
Key features:
1. Custom Quantity: Enter any amount for instant valuation
2. Spread Adjustment: Modify dealer margin spreads
3. Labor Costs: Add manufacturing fees for jewelry valuation
4. Live Rates: All prices update in real-time based on market data
Use the dropdowns to change silver purity, weight units, or convert prices to other currencies.
Silver Price History
This section tracks silver's value over time. The table shows daily prices with percentage changes, highlighting market activity and closures.
Reference Information
The following information is about the primary data used in the above sections for transparency and trustworthiness. This section details the weight unit, purity, and currency. It also provides update times and data sources to ensure all information is fresh and accurate for decision-making.