Overview
Gold is a metal used in industry and a financial asset. It has been used as money, as a store of value, and as a symbol of wealth for thousands of years.
Today, gold is held by central banks, investors, and individuals as a hedge against inflation, currency crises, and financial instability. It also plays a role in electronics and specialized technologies.
Deposits
Important gold mining regions include:
- China - currently one of the largest gold producers
- Australia - major mines in Western Australia
- Russia - Siberia and Far East gold projects
- South Africa - historic deep-level mines and newer operations
- Canada - Ontario, Quebec, and other mining regions
- United States - Nevada and Alaska gold belts
- South America - Peru, Brazil, and other Andean and Amazon regions
Geopolitics
Gold is part of how countries think about financial power. Central banks hold gold reserves to back confidence in their currencies or to diversify away from foreign debt.
In some regions, gold mining is linked to environmental damage, conflict financing, and informal or illegal mining. That makes questions of regulation, traceability, and responsibility part of the political story.
