三星堆金器，早期贵金属工艺的巅峰—— 夏商周时，金器在中原并不流行，最早的小件金饰品主要在西北方。四川广汉三星堆金器则是夏商周考古中一次出土金器数 量最多、器形最大的。有金杖、金面罩、金虎形饰、金四叉形器等，黄金用量超过2000克。 古人通过锤鍱、裁切、镂刻完成造型，以划刻、錾刻手法做表面装饰。材料多为金银合金，成分稳定，抛光工艺使得金器历 经3000年仍然光彩动人。将薄如蝉翼的金箔完美贴附于青铜器表面的技术，更是高超。 世界上最早的金币—— 公元前6世纪左右，吕底亚（今土耳其境内）的克罗伊斯国王下令铸造金币，采用天然金银合金（俗称琥珀金）压制而成， 表面常印有狮头或牛头图案。吕底亚人通过铸币暴富，成语Rich as Croesus即形容"富可敌国"。 中国最古老的金币—— 战国时期楚国的郢爰，又名印子金、金版，大多呈方形，是在一块金板上钤印出许多印记，有篆文"郢爰"，含金量在90%以 上，完整金版重约250克。 "郢"为楚都城名，"爰"是货币重量单位。使用时可切割成小块，通过等臂天平称量，多用于上层礼聘、游说诸侯、国王赠 赏、大宗交易，出土时常见切割痕迹。 西汉的"黄金"时代—— 目前我国出土黄金量最多的是 ...

Core Insights - The article discusses the historical context of gold mining in the United States during the gold rush, highlighting that 99.99% of prospectors returned empty-handed despite the allure of wealth [1] - It emphasizes the vast amount of gold estimated to be within the Earth, approximately 400 trillion tons, yet the difficulty of extraction due to its deep burial [3] - The article explains the natural processes that lead to the formation of gold deposits, including volcanic activity and geological movements [5][7][8] Group 1: Gold Formation and Sources - Gold is primarily formed through volcanic eruptions, which bring rare elements to the surface, leading to the creation of gold-rich ores [5] - Natural gold deposits are a significant source of gold, formed through geological processes that have allowed some gold to remain exposed at the surface [8] - The Rand goldfields in South Africa are highlighted as a major source, containing over 50% of the world's gold reserves, supplying 600 to 700 tons annually [10] Group 2: Gold's Value and Consumption - Despite increasing global gold supply, its value remains stable, and it is recognized not only as a store of value but also as a luxury consumable [12][15] - Gold is used in various applications, including medical treatments and food decoration, although its recovery after use is often inefficient [14][15] - The article warns that as surface gold deposits diminish, the potential for exploiting deeper reserves may arise, leading to ethical and environmental concerns [20] Group 3: Cosmic Perspective on Gold - Gold is formed in stars through nuclear fusion and is released into the universe during supernova explosions, eventually contributing to the formation of planets [18] - The article discusses the implications of attempting to mine gold from the Earth's core, suggesting that it could destabilize the planet's mass and gravitational integrity [17][20]