Rocks and Minerals

Sulfur

Composition: Gold, with small amounts of silver; sometimes also copper and iron
Uses: Gold has been used as a precious metal throughout the history of mankind. This is due to its resistance, beauty, rareness, and the fact that it is very easy to work with. In addition, in the olden days gold didn’t have to be extracted, because a large amount was found in a pure state. Many gold ornaments from the past have been found. Most noted are from the tombs of the Pharaoh in Egypt, where gold masks, statues, coins, and much jewelry was archeologically excavated. Gold has been used for coinage throughout the centuries, and is currently accepted internationally as a standard value. Nowadays the main use of gold is for jewelry.

Due to gold’s distinctive properties as a metal, it has several industrial uses. It is also used for photography, dentistry, coloring, and being studied for treatments in cancer.