It’s Not Just in Mines, Gold Found in Unlikely Places You’d Never Expect
Gold is often seen as the ultimate symbol of wealth—shiny, precious, and hidden deep within the Earth. We think of it as something rare, locked away in mines or panning through riverbeds. But, surprisingly, the precious metal is far more common than we realize, existing in some of the most unexpected places.
From your bloodstream to the oceans, this precious metal can be found in spots you’d never imagine. And while these gold deposits may not make anyone rich, they do offer fascinating glimpses into the way it exists in the world around us.
A Surprising Presence in the Human Body
Most people probably wouldn’t think to look for gold inside their own body, but surprisingly, it’s there. According to WION, the average human body contains around 0.2 milligrams of gold, spread throughout the blood and various cells. It plays an essential role in transmitting electrical signals, especially in nerve cells and those that help maintain joint health.
While you won’t ever see this gold, it’s quietly working in the background, helping your body’s electrical systems function properly. It’s a small amount, but it’s essential for maintaining the proper function of the body. The fact that gold is embedded in our biology is a fascinating reminder of just how integral this metal is to life.
The Ocean’s Hidden Treasure
When we think of oceans, we think of water, waves, and marine life, not necessarily gold. Yet, seawater contains a surprising amount of this precious metal. Around 20 million tons of dissolved gold are spread throughout the oceans, though it’s far too diluted to make extraction feasible. Despite numerous efforts over the years, scientists have yet to develop a way to profitably extract precious metal from seawater.
Still, the idea that “liquid gold” exists in the seas continues to captivate researchers and treasure hunters alike. Even though it’s not practical to extract the metal from seawater right now, the sheer scale of it is mind-blowing.
Gold from the Stars
Perhaps the most extraordinary place where it can be found is in space. Scientists believe that much of the yellow metal found on Earth actually arrived here through meteorites billions of years ago. These space rocks, packed with precious metals, bombarded Earth’s surface during its early formation, depositing gold and other metals into the planet’s crust. This theory has sparked growing interest in space mining, with some researchers suggesting that asteroids might be a new frontier for mining precious metals.
Gold’s extraterrestrial origins offer a fascinating twist on the story of this precious metal. It’s hard to imagine that what we use and admire on Earth might not have come from the planet at all. Instead, it could have traveled through space, arriving here as part of a cosmic event long before humans ever set foot on Earth.
Breaking🚨: Asteroid Psyche 16 has been found to contain gold reserves worth $700 quintillion. That’s enough to make everyone on Earth billionaires☄️💸 pic.twitter.com/aLBkSbIA5V
— Milky Way Astronomers✨ (@fascinatingonX) November 1, 2025
Plants as Unexpected Hosts
It’s also found in plants. Certain species, like eucalyptus and Norway spruce, have the ability to absorb tiny amounts of gold particles from the soil. Their roots draw in microscopic gilded metal, which then travels up through the plant and is stored in the leaves.
Though the quantities are incredibly small and not useful for mining, the process itself is fascinating and speaks to how deeply it is embedded in the Earth’s natural systems. Research, published in Molecules, has even suggested that microbes might be involved in helping the plants absorb and store these particles, turning them into nanoparticles that are locked away in the plant tissues.
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