Gold

Gold is a metallic yellow base metal. People have been familiar with this metal since ancient times. Since ancient times, it has been known as a very precious metal because of its unchanging properties, glossy color, easy means of exchange, and durability of the structure. Different types of ornaments are made with gold. Especially gold jewelry is the first choice of women in Bangladesh.

Discovery history:
Gold is thought to be the oldest element discovered by humans. Gold Products were used even in the Neolithic Age. They have been found in many excavated specimens of that era, along with stone objects. The famous German sociologist Karl Marx also identified gold as the first manufactured metal. It has long been used as the primary criterion for money because of its unchanging appearance, easy disreputability, and glossy nature. Gold is associated with many of the world’s most painful widows and horror stories. Countries have fought for the right to gold, and countless people have lost their lives. Again, no one got peace even after owning gold. Because the fear of losing gold would come after getting it. Ever since man learned to be socialized and gradually social classification has started, people have started extracting gold from mines. Since then, gold has been used to make ornaments. At that time, the methods of gold refining were not well known to the people. For this reason, gold and silver alloys were initially made, which was known as Azeem. There was also another natural alloy of gold silver called electrum. Gold was used in all ancient nations. The pyramids built by the Egyptian emperors have been excavated, and many gold ornaments and items have been recovered. The Egyptians have been studying gold for a long time. From the 4th to the 16th century, alchemists tried hard to find gold. Their primary purpose was to search for stones. According to their belief, it is possible to convert alkali metal into gold through parse stone. Alchemists had more reasons behind this idea. If iron had been lying in a copper mine for a long time, it would have been covered with copper. Alchemists thought that iron had turned into copper. From this, they also came up with the idea that it is possible to turn other metals into gold in this way. They play a leading role in this. However, the Egyptians were able to make the best progress in this work. They knew the secrets of gold mining. Therefore, gold has a deep connection with Egyptian tradition.

Gold was also used in the tenth century BC in China, India, and Mesopotamia. Gold coins were in vogue in Greece in the eighth-seventh centuries BC. Gold money was used in Armenia in the first century BC. The oldest gold mines have been found in India and the Nuria region (Northeast Africa). Alchemists have made great strides in the study of metals. For example, silver is found mixed with naturally occurring lead sulfide, which is sometimes extracted. They realized that silver is not created on lead. Instead, identical elements combine in different proportions to produce all objects. This idea developed among alchemists. Many alchemists sought the Paresh stone to make gold from other metals; many sacrificed their lives. But there was no truth in it. Science has not acknowledged the existence of something called Paresh Panther. However, the spread of alchemy did not stop there.

The Spaniards led campaigns to conquer South and Central America. Alchemists were overwhelmed by the abundance of gold in ancient Inca after the European colonization there. To the Incas, gold was the secret metal of the sun god. A large amount of gold was kept in their temples. When Atahualpa, the great leader of the Incas, was captured by the Spaniards, the Incas promised 70 cubic meters of gold as his ransom, which may seem unbelievable. However, the Spanish general Francisco Pizarro did not release him but killed him without waiting for a ransom. When the Incas found out about the killing, they carried 1,100 lamas carrying a tremendous amount of gold. They hid the gold in the mountains of Azhagar. But they could not hide their wealth for long. Occupying Cuzco, Peru’s most prosperous city, the Spaniards plundered much of it, as well as gold.

Gold mining in Russia began in 1800. However, the amount was not too much. As a result, gold mining has multiplied since 1900.

References:

1. “Gold falling into space due to the collision of two neutron stars.” 30 August 2019. Date of collection 5 November 2019.

Chemical elements: How they were discovered: R. No. Trifonov, v. R. Trifonov; Bengali translation: Kanai Lal Mukherjee; Published by Mir Prakashan, Moscow and Manisha Library, Calcutta. Printed in the Soviet Union; 196.