Gold Found in Unexpected Places
Gold Found in Unexpected Places
Discover the most surprising locations where precious metals have been discovered recently
Introduction
There are a limited number of places where you would not be surprised to find gold: a bank vault or a gold mine, for instance. Of course, these locations are difficult to access—hence the scarcity and high price of gold that drives investors to buy gold bullion and coins for their portfolios.
Nonetheless, the shiny yellow metal has been turning up in increasingly surprising places around the world lately! From Olympic medals rescued from trash cans to ancient treasures buried in volcanic ash, these remarkable discoveries remind us that gold's intrinsic value transcends location and circumstance.
Table of Contents
Stolen Olympic Gold Medal Found in Trash
Joe Jacobi, an Olympic canoeist who won the gold medal in his sport at the 1992 Barcelona summer games, reportedly had the golden prize stolen from his vehicle in early June. A few weeks later, an Atlanta resident, Wayne Smith, recovered the gold medal when his six-year-old daughter spotted the Olympic medal—in a trash can!
"When she picked it up it just wowed me. I had to look at it for 20 minutes before it sunk in," Smith told reporters.
Olympic Medal Facts
This is, in fact, not the only time an Olympic medal has been recovered from the garbage in the past year. In 2015, a pair of medals from the middle of the 20th century were discovered in a trash bin in Australia. While Olympic "gold" medals are actually made primarily of silver with gold plating, their symbolic and collectible value far exceeds their precious metal content.
Ancient Gold Buried in Pompeii
Nearly two millennia ago, the Italian city of Pompeii was virtually eradicated when the volcano Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the bustling urban center. Academics have been studying the evidence of this tragic event for centuries.
Archaeologists have uncovered more artifacts from Pompeii just recently. A group of four skeletons were uncovered earlier this summer. Significantly, these impromptu tombs also contained a gold necklace and three gold coins dating to antiquity.
Archaeological Significance
These discoveries provide valuable insights into ancient Roman society and the role of gold as a store of wealth even in times of crisis. The presence of gold artifacts with the remains suggests these individuals were attempting to preserve their wealth during the catastrophic eruption.
Historical Context
Gold has served as a reliable store of value for thousands of years, surviving volcanic eruptions, wars, and economic collapses. This durability explains why modern investors continue to add gold to their portfolios as a hedge against uncertainty.
Multi-Million Dollar Gold Smuggling Operation
In one of the stranger developments involving newfound gold recently, authorities in South Africa stopped a man driving an Audi they were investigating in connection with crime syndicate activity. When they looked under the hood of the vehicle, they discovered gold bullion worth 50 million rand ($3.4 million).
The suspect was attempting to smuggle the gold to Gauteng, a province in South Africa that not only includes two of the country's largest cities (Pretoria and Johannesburg) but literally translates to "place of gold." It is likely that the millions worth of gold was connected to the money laundering operations of drug cartels.
Gold's Appeal to Criminals
Gold's portability, anonymity, and universal acceptance make it attractive not just to legitimate investors but unfortunately to criminal organizations as well. This case demonstrates why proper authentication and sourcing are crucial when investors choose to purchase gold from reputable dealers.
Gold in Cow Urine: A Scientific Discovery
Finally, the most unbelievable turn of events for where gold is being discovered sounds like something out of a Hollywood B-movie script: Indian scientists have discovered that cows in China are expelling non-negligible amounts of gold from their bladders!
The researchers confirmed that between 3 mg and 10 mg of water-soluble gold was contained in the urine of both adult cows and calves in Gir cows. (The concentrations of gold were higher in the calves.)
Scientific Process
Chemical processes can actually extract this gold from the liquid and convert it into a solid form. It remains to be seen whether or not this small amount of gold will prove to be a profitable endeavor for farmers or scientists.
Economic Implications
While 3-10 mg of gold per cow may seem insignificant compared to traditional mining operations, this discovery highlights gold's presence throughout our environment. For context, current gold prices make even small quantities valuable.
Still, it makes one wonder what on earth they are feeding this breed of Gir cattle?
Conclusion
These remarkable discoveries remind us that gold's allure extends far beyond traditional investment channels. Whether found in ancient ruins, modern crime scenes, or even biological waste, gold continues to capture human imagination and maintain its status as a store of value.
For investors interested in more conventional approaches to gold ownership, these stories underscore precious metals' enduring appeal across cultures and centuries. While finding gold in unexpected places makes for fascinating headlines, most investors prefer the reliability of purchasing authenticated gold products from established dealers.
Investment Takeaway
These unusual discoveries highlight gold's remarkable durability and universal recognition as valuable. Whether you're tracking gold prices or considering silver investments, precious metals offer a tangible hedge against economic uncertainty—no matter where they're found.
Disclaimer: The opinions and forecasts herein are provided solely for informational purposes, and should not be used or construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell any product.