Page 202 - DK Children's Encyclopedia

The story of...

Gold

Gold is a precious metal that has been
used to make jewelry and decorations

since ancient times. It is rare and very
expensive. But that’s just the start Meteor shower

of its story. Gold has a glittering When Earth first formed, This gold mask
is thought to
history and is still popular gold and other metals sank deep show the
Greek hero
all over the world. into the core. Other gold, found Agamemnon.
near the surface of our planet,
arrived later from space. Asteroids
rained down in a powerful storm,
bringing gold with them.

Digging for gold
In the past, a single nugget could
change the life of a gold-digger.
When gold was found in the US
in the 1800s, it started a “gold Gold nugget
rush.” Thousands of people,
known as prospectors, traveled
to the US hoping to find
gold and become rich.

25

Large gold mines
have created percent of all the
huge holes deep
into the ground. world’s gold is stored
in a New York City
vault.

Gold mine Centuries
Pieces of gold found loose on of sparkle
the Earth’s surface can be picked
up by hand. Bigger quantities Gold was the first metal
deep underground must be dug to be discovered and used
out in a process called mining. by humans. It is beautiful and
Modern mines use heavy shiny, as well as soft and bendy.
machines to dig chunks of rock This makes it ideal for shaping
that contain traces of gold. into jewelry, including
delicate rings, bracelets,
and necklaces.

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