Real “Alchemical Transmutation” of Some Other Mineral Into Gold?












1












$begingroup$


While obviously you can't really transmute something like Lead into Gold (as far as I know), is there any real-life mineral or element that could be used to artificially create Gold from whatever its composite elements are? If so, what kinds of processes would you have to run the ingredients through to make Gold?






reality-check geology chemistry materials







share|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Related: Is it possible to obtain gold through nuclear decay?
    $endgroup$
    – Alexander
    5 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    As background for an already-given answer, gold is an element. This means that it has no composite elements, chemically speaking.
    $endgroup$
    – jdunlop
    5 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Oh... Thanks, I actually didn't know that? I somehow never got put in a chemistry class in highschool, so I might have some reading to do on the subject XD
    $endgroup$
    – BonnetBee
    5 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    To be fair, this technically isn't a worldbuilding question. Compare it to this question where the "technology" of transmutation is being applied in a worldbuilding context. For future reference, that's the kind of question we prefer to see posted: one where there is a defined and specific worldbuilding application. Cheers!
    $endgroup$
    – JBH
    2 hours ago
















1












$begingroup$


While obviously you can't really transmute something like Lead into Gold (as far as I know), is there any real-life mineral or element that could be used to artificially create Gold from whatever its composite elements are? If so, what kinds of processes would you have to run the ingredients through to make Gold?






reality-check geology chemistry materials







share|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Related: Is it possible to obtain gold through nuclear decay?
    $endgroup$
    – Alexander
    5 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    As background for an already-given answer, gold is an element. This means that it has no composite elements, chemically speaking.
    $endgroup$
    – jdunlop
    5 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Oh... Thanks, I actually didn't know that? I somehow never got put in a chemistry class in highschool, so I might have some reading to do on the subject XD
    $endgroup$
    – BonnetBee
    5 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    To be fair, this technically isn't a worldbuilding question. Compare it to this question where the "technology" of transmutation is being applied in a worldbuilding context. For future reference, that's the kind of question we prefer to see posted: one where there is a defined and specific worldbuilding application. Cheers!
    $endgroup$
    – JBH
    2 hours ago














1












1








1





$begingroup$


While obviously you can't really transmute something like Lead into Gold (as far as I know), is there any real-life mineral or element that could be used to artificially create Gold from whatever its composite elements are? If so, what kinds of processes would you have to run the ingredients through to make Gold?






reality-check geology chemistry materials







share|improve this question











$endgroup$




While obviously you can't really transmute something like Lead into Gold (as far as I know), is there any real-life mineral or element that could be used to artificially create Gold from whatever its composite elements are? If so, what kinds of processes would you have to run the ingredients through to make Gold?






reality-check geology chemistry materials




reality-check geology chemistry materials






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 2 hours ago









L.Dutch♦

81.3k26195398




81.3k26195398










asked 5 hours ago









BonnetBeeBonnetBee

40214




40214








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Related: Is it possible to obtain gold through nuclear decay?
    $endgroup$
    – Alexander
    5 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    As background for an already-given answer, gold is an element. This means that it has no composite elements, chemically speaking.
    $endgroup$
    – jdunlop
    5 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Oh... Thanks, I actually didn't know that? I somehow never got put in a chemistry class in highschool, so I might have some reading to do on the subject XD
    $endgroup$
    – BonnetBee
    5 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    To be fair, this technically isn't a worldbuilding question. Compare it to this question where the "technology" of transmutation is being applied in a worldbuilding context. For future reference, that's the kind of question we prefer to see posted: one where there is a defined and specific worldbuilding application. Cheers!
    $endgroup$
    – JBH
    2 hours ago














  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Related: Is it possible to obtain gold through nuclear decay?
    $endgroup$
    – Alexander
    5 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    As background for an already-given answer, gold is an element. This means that it has no composite elements, chemically speaking.
    $endgroup$
    – jdunlop
    5 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Oh... Thanks, I actually didn't know that? I somehow never got put in a chemistry class in highschool, so I might have some reading to do on the subject XD
    $endgroup$
    – BonnetBee
    5 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    To be fair, this technically isn't a worldbuilding question. Compare it to this question where the "technology" of transmutation is being applied in a worldbuilding context. For future reference, that's the kind of question we prefer to see posted: one where there is a defined and specific worldbuilding application. Cheers!
    $endgroup$
    – JBH
    2 hours ago








2




2




$begingroup$
Related: Is it possible to obtain gold through nuclear decay?
$endgroup$
– Alexander
5 hours ago




$begingroup$
Related: Is it possible to obtain gold through nuclear decay?
$endgroup$
– Alexander
5 hours ago




1




1




$begingroup$
As background for an already-given answer, gold is an element. This means that it has no composite elements, chemically speaking.
$endgroup$
– jdunlop
5 hours ago




$begingroup$
As background for an already-given answer, gold is an element. This means that it has no composite elements, chemically speaking.
$endgroup$
– jdunlop
5 hours ago




2




2




$begingroup$
Oh... Thanks, I actually didn't know that? I somehow never got put in a chemistry class in highschool, so I might have some reading to do on the subject XD
$endgroup$
– BonnetBee
5 hours ago




$begingroup$
Oh... Thanks, I actually didn't know that? I somehow never got put in a chemistry class in highschool, so I might have some reading to do on the subject XD
$endgroup$
– BonnetBee
5 hours ago












$begingroup$
To be fair, this technically isn't a worldbuilding question. Compare it to this question where the "technology" of transmutation is being applied in a worldbuilding context. For future reference, that's the kind of question we prefer to see posted: one where there is a defined and specific worldbuilding application. Cheers!
$endgroup$
– JBH
2 hours ago




$begingroup$
To be fair, this technically isn't a worldbuilding question. Compare it to this question where the "technology" of transmutation is being applied in a worldbuilding context. For future reference, that's the kind of question we prefer to see posted: one where there is a defined and specific worldbuilding application. Cheers!
$endgroup$
– JBH
2 hours ago










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















6












$begingroup$

Changing Element A into Element B requires changing the number of protons in each atom of Element A. There is NO chemical process that can affect the number of protons in any atom.



Chemical processes can be used to concentrate or dilute gold atoms mixed among others. Chemical processes can bond or separate gold atoms locked in compounds. But no chemical process can change another element into gold.



...assuming your alchemist is honest, of course. Any charlatan worthy of the name can whip up a convincing transmutation swindle.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Ah! So maybe "Transmutation", in this setting, is really just a matter of Sifting Out Gold That's Already There?
    $endgroup$
    – BonnetBee
    5 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Which is more commonly called "smelting and refining". 911metallurgist.com/blog/gold-smelting-refining-process
    $endgroup$
    – jdunlop
    4 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @BonnetBee Does magic exist in the setting? If so, perhaps nuclear transmutation is possible through the application of magic?
    $endgroup$
    – Arkenstein XII
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @ArkensteinXII - he's got the reality-check tag in place, so... probably not?
    $endgroup$
    – jdunlop
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    This is the correct answer. To make a point: we can manipulate molecules by moving elements in and out of molecular configurations - but we cannot manipulate elements other than destructively. We can take them apart (via e.g. nuclear explosions or particle accelerators), but we don't know how to put them back together again... yet.... perhaps someday there will be technomages. And then gold will be worthless.
    $endgroup$
    – JBH
    2 hours ago



















4












$begingroup$

While it is impossible to transmute any element into another by chemical means, it is entirely possible to do it via nuclear means.



In fact, Glenn T. Seaborg in 1980 was able to transmute several thousand atoms of bismuth into gold, however at a net loss economically speaking (the cost of equipment, energy, and bismuth was greater than the value of the gold.)






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$









  • 3




    $begingroup$
    "At a net loss", I rather expect, is a major understatement. Gold's highest value in 1980 was $850/ounce, or ~$28/gram. Assuming ten thousand atoms, the value of the created gold would be 3.3 * 10^-18g * $28/g or approximately a hundred trillionth of a cent. Also, the majority of the transmuted gold was radioactive and would have decayed over the course of the next year.
    $endgroup$
    – jdunlop
    5 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    You get better results when you expose Hg 196 to a high neutron flux. It would create Hg 197, and EC into Au 197, which is stable. But again, would be ridiculously expensive to create a sufficient quantity of it. Especially since Hg196 represents 0.15% of naturally occurring mercury
    $endgroup$
    – sonvar
    2 hours ago





















1












$begingroup$

Given your response to existing answers, I have a potentially showy solution for your would-be alchemist:




Calavarite (naturally occurring gold telluride)



Calavarite crystal



It's uncommon in real life, but could be unusually common for whatever reason in the vicinity of wherever this feat is to take place.



Your would-be alchemist/wizard is dropping fancy stones into vitriol, as one does, to see what happens. To his shock, a gleam of gold starts to form as the liquid turns red. He has discovered the Philosopher's Stone!



(He has not. But it's a good way to get more research money from the local royalty!)






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    This is the correct answer.
    $endgroup$
    – Gimelist
    3 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @Gimelist : ^ No it's not : The question was "is there any real-life mineral or element that could be used to artificially create Gold" this answer doesn't answer that question, it suggests a source of gold that gold can be extracted from, & the question wasn't "name an ore that gold can be smelted from" : it's a nice response to the question but to call it the "correct" answer, is not correct.
    $endgroup$
    – Pelinore
    3 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    @Pelinore no - because "gold telluride" does not equal "gold". Just like hydrogen does not equal water. So you're taking "some mineral", being gold telluride (= not gold), and you process it somehow to turn it into gold from "whatever its composite elements are", which happen to be gold and tellurium. There was no condition that gold cannot be a component of the mineral.
    $endgroup$
    – Gimelist
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @Gimelist : all I can say is kindly read the question again & check the definitions of the words "create" & "extract" then reconsider.
    $endgroup$
    – Pelinore
    2 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Pelinore to the "man on the street", or someone in a medieval society with no knowledge of 20th and 21st century chemistry, the distinction in meaningless. When you look at the history of element discovery, many elements were "discovered" only to be later realised to contain a combination of elements. The lanthanides are an excellent example of that.
    $endgroup$
    – Gimelist
    2 hours ago











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3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes








3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









6












$begingroup$

Changing Element A into Element B requires changing the number of protons in each atom of Element A. There is NO chemical process that can affect the number of protons in any atom.



Chemical processes can be used to concentrate or dilute gold atoms mixed among others. Chemical processes can bond or separate gold atoms locked in compounds. But no chemical process can change another element into gold.



...assuming your alchemist is honest, of course. Any charlatan worthy of the name can whip up a convincing transmutation swindle.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Ah! So maybe "Transmutation", in this setting, is really just a matter of Sifting Out Gold That's Already There?
    $endgroup$
    – BonnetBee
    5 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Which is more commonly called "smelting and refining". 911metallurgist.com/blog/gold-smelting-refining-process
    $endgroup$
    – jdunlop
    4 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @BonnetBee Does magic exist in the setting? If so, perhaps nuclear transmutation is possible through the application of magic?
    $endgroup$
    – Arkenstein XII
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @ArkensteinXII - he's got the reality-check tag in place, so... probably not?
    $endgroup$
    – jdunlop
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    This is the correct answer. To make a point: we can manipulate molecules by moving elements in and out of molecular configurations - but we cannot manipulate elements other than destructively. We can take them apart (via e.g. nuclear explosions or particle accelerators), but we don't know how to put them back together again... yet.... perhaps someday there will be technomages. And then gold will be worthless.
    $endgroup$
    – JBH
    2 hours ago
















6












$begingroup$

Changing Element A into Element B requires changing the number of protons in each atom of Element A. There is NO chemical process that can affect the number of protons in any atom.



Chemical processes can be used to concentrate or dilute gold atoms mixed among others. Chemical processes can bond or separate gold atoms locked in compounds. But no chemical process can change another element into gold.



...assuming your alchemist is honest, of course. Any charlatan worthy of the name can whip up a convincing transmutation swindle.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Ah! So maybe "Transmutation", in this setting, is really just a matter of Sifting Out Gold That's Already There?
    $endgroup$
    – BonnetBee
    5 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Which is more commonly called "smelting and refining". 911metallurgist.com/blog/gold-smelting-refining-process
    $endgroup$
    – jdunlop
    4 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @BonnetBee Does magic exist in the setting? If so, perhaps nuclear transmutation is possible through the application of magic?
    $endgroup$
    – Arkenstein XII
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @ArkensteinXII - he's got the reality-check tag in place, so... probably not?
    $endgroup$
    – jdunlop
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    This is the correct answer. To make a point: we can manipulate molecules by moving elements in and out of molecular configurations - but we cannot manipulate elements other than destructively. We can take them apart (via e.g. nuclear explosions or particle accelerators), but we don't know how to put them back together again... yet.... perhaps someday there will be technomages. And then gold will be worthless.
    $endgroup$
    – JBH
    2 hours ago














6












6








6





$begingroup$

Changing Element A into Element B requires changing the number of protons in each atom of Element A. There is NO chemical process that can affect the number of protons in any atom.



Chemical processes can be used to concentrate or dilute gold atoms mixed among others. Chemical processes can bond or separate gold atoms locked in compounds. But no chemical process can change another element into gold.



...assuming your alchemist is honest, of course. Any charlatan worthy of the name can whip up a convincing transmutation swindle.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$



Changing Element A into Element B requires changing the number of protons in each atom of Element A. There is NO chemical process that can affect the number of protons in any atom.



Chemical processes can be used to concentrate or dilute gold atoms mixed among others. Chemical processes can bond or separate gold atoms locked in compounds. But no chemical process can change another element into gold.



...assuming your alchemist is honest, of course. Any charlatan worthy of the name can whip up a convincing transmutation swindle.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited 3 hours ago

























answered 5 hours ago









user535733user535733

8,29921734




8,29921734












  • $begingroup$
    Ah! So maybe "Transmutation", in this setting, is really just a matter of Sifting Out Gold That's Already There?
    $endgroup$
    – BonnetBee
    5 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Which is more commonly called "smelting and refining". 911metallurgist.com/blog/gold-smelting-refining-process
    $endgroup$
    – jdunlop
    4 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @BonnetBee Does magic exist in the setting? If so, perhaps nuclear transmutation is possible through the application of magic?
    $endgroup$
    – Arkenstein XII
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @ArkensteinXII - he's got the reality-check tag in place, so... probably not?
    $endgroup$
    – jdunlop
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    This is the correct answer. To make a point: we can manipulate molecules by moving elements in and out of molecular configurations - but we cannot manipulate elements other than destructively. We can take them apart (via e.g. nuclear explosions or particle accelerators), but we don't know how to put them back together again... yet.... perhaps someday there will be technomages. And then gold will be worthless.
    $endgroup$
    – JBH
    2 hours ago


















  • $begingroup$
    Ah! So maybe "Transmutation", in this setting, is really just a matter of Sifting Out Gold That's Already There?
    $endgroup$
    – BonnetBee
    5 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Which is more commonly called "smelting and refining". 911metallurgist.com/blog/gold-smelting-refining-process
    $endgroup$
    – jdunlop
    4 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @BonnetBee Does magic exist in the setting? If so, perhaps nuclear transmutation is possible through the application of magic?
    $endgroup$
    – Arkenstein XII
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @ArkensteinXII - he's got the reality-check tag in place, so... probably not?
    $endgroup$
    – jdunlop
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    This is the correct answer. To make a point: we can manipulate molecules by moving elements in and out of molecular configurations - but we cannot manipulate elements other than destructively. We can take them apart (via e.g. nuclear explosions or particle accelerators), but we don't know how to put them back together again... yet.... perhaps someday there will be technomages. And then gold will be worthless.
    $endgroup$
    – JBH
    2 hours ago
















$begingroup$
Ah! So maybe "Transmutation", in this setting, is really just a matter of Sifting Out Gold That's Already There?
$endgroup$
– BonnetBee
5 hours ago




$begingroup$
Ah! So maybe "Transmutation", in this setting, is really just a matter of Sifting Out Gold That's Already There?
$endgroup$
– BonnetBee
5 hours ago




1




1




$begingroup$
Which is more commonly called "smelting and refining". 911metallurgist.com/blog/gold-smelting-refining-process
$endgroup$
– jdunlop
4 hours ago




$begingroup$
Which is more commonly called "smelting and refining". 911metallurgist.com/blog/gold-smelting-refining-process
$endgroup$
– jdunlop
4 hours ago












$begingroup$
@BonnetBee Does magic exist in the setting? If so, perhaps nuclear transmutation is possible through the application of magic?
$endgroup$
– Arkenstein XII
4 hours ago




$begingroup$
@BonnetBee Does magic exist in the setting? If so, perhaps nuclear transmutation is possible through the application of magic?
$endgroup$
– Arkenstein XII
4 hours ago




1




1




$begingroup$
@ArkensteinXII - he's got the reality-check tag in place, so... probably not?
$endgroup$
– jdunlop
4 hours ago




$begingroup$
@ArkensteinXII - he's got the reality-check tag in place, so... probably not?
$endgroup$
– jdunlop
4 hours ago




1




1




$begingroup$
This is the correct answer. To make a point: we can manipulate molecules by moving elements in and out of molecular configurations - but we cannot manipulate elements other than destructively. We can take them apart (via e.g. nuclear explosions or particle accelerators), but we don't know how to put them back together again... yet.... perhaps someday there will be technomages. And then gold will be worthless.
$endgroup$
– JBH
2 hours ago




$begingroup$
This is the correct answer. To make a point: we can manipulate molecules by moving elements in and out of molecular configurations - but we cannot manipulate elements other than destructively. We can take them apart (via e.g. nuclear explosions or particle accelerators), but we don't know how to put them back together again... yet.... perhaps someday there will be technomages. And then gold will be worthless.
$endgroup$
– JBH
2 hours ago











4












$begingroup$

While it is impossible to transmute any element into another by chemical means, it is entirely possible to do it via nuclear means.



In fact, Glenn T. Seaborg in 1980 was able to transmute several thousand atoms of bismuth into gold, however at a net loss economically speaking (the cost of equipment, energy, and bismuth was greater than the value of the gold.)






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$









  • 3




    $begingroup$
    "At a net loss", I rather expect, is a major understatement. Gold's highest value in 1980 was $850/ounce, or ~$28/gram. Assuming ten thousand atoms, the value of the created gold would be 3.3 * 10^-18g * $28/g or approximately a hundred trillionth of a cent. Also, the majority of the transmuted gold was radioactive and would have decayed over the course of the next year.
    $endgroup$
    – jdunlop
    5 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    You get better results when you expose Hg 196 to a high neutron flux. It would create Hg 197, and EC into Au 197, which is stable. But again, would be ridiculously expensive to create a sufficient quantity of it. Especially since Hg196 represents 0.15% of naturally occurring mercury
    $endgroup$
    – sonvar
    2 hours ago


















4












$begingroup$

While it is impossible to transmute any element into another by chemical means, it is entirely possible to do it via nuclear means.



In fact, Glenn T. Seaborg in 1980 was able to transmute several thousand atoms of bismuth into gold, however at a net loss economically speaking (the cost of equipment, energy, and bismuth was greater than the value of the gold.)






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$









  • 3




    $begingroup$
    "At a net loss", I rather expect, is a major understatement. Gold's highest value in 1980 was $850/ounce, or ~$28/gram. Assuming ten thousand atoms, the value of the created gold would be 3.3 * 10^-18g * $28/g or approximately a hundred trillionth of a cent. Also, the majority of the transmuted gold was radioactive and would have decayed over the course of the next year.
    $endgroup$
    – jdunlop
    5 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    You get better results when you expose Hg 196 to a high neutron flux. It would create Hg 197, and EC into Au 197, which is stable. But again, would be ridiculously expensive to create a sufficient quantity of it. Especially since Hg196 represents 0.15% of naturally occurring mercury
    $endgroup$
    – sonvar
    2 hours ago
















4












4








4





$begingroup$

While it is impossible to transmute any element into another by chemical means, it is entirely possible to do it via nuclear means.



In fact, Glenn T. Seaborg in 1980 was able to transmute several thousand atoms of bismuth into gold, however at a net loss economically speaking (the cost of equipment, energy, and bismuth was greater than the value of the gold.)






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$



While it is impossible to transmute any element into another by chemical means, it is entirely possible to do it via nuclear means.



In fact, Glenn T. Seaborg in 1980 was able to transmute several thousand atoms of bismuth into gold, however at a net loss economically speaking (the cost of equipment, energy, and bismuth was greater than the value of the gold.)







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 5 hours ago









Arkenstein XIIArkenstein XII

2,548425




2,548425








  • 3




    $begingroup$
    "At a net loss", I rather expect, is a major understatement. Gold's highest value in 1980 was $850/ounce, or ~$28/gram. Assuming ten thousand atoms, the value of the created gold would be 3.3 * 10^-18g * $28/g or approximately a hundred trillionth of a cent. Also, the majority of the transmuted gold was radioactive and would have decayed over the course of the next year.
    $endgroup$
    – jdunlop
    5 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    You get better results when you expose Hg 196 to a high neutron flux. It would create Hg 197, and EC into Au 197, which is stable. But again, would be ridiculously expensive to create a sufficient quantity of it. Especially since Hg196 represents 0.15% of naturally occurring mercury
    $endgroup$
    – sonvar
    2 hours ago
















  • 3




    $begingroup$
    "At a net loss", I rather expect, is a major understatement. Gold's highest value in 1980 was $850/ounce, or ~$28/gram. Assuming ten thousand atoms, the value of the created gold would be 3.3 * 10^-18g * $28/g or approximately a hundred trillionth of a cent. Also, the majority of the transmuted gold was radioactive and would have decayed over the course of the next year.
    $endgroup$
    – jdunlop
    5 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    You get better results when you expose Hg 196 to a high neutron flux. It would create Hg 197, and EC into Au 197, which is stable. But again, would be ridiculously expensive to create a sufficient quantity of it. Especially since Hg196 represents 0.15% of naturally occurring mercury
    $endgroup$
    – sonvar
    2 hours ago










3




3




$begingroup$
"At a net loss", I rather expect, is a major understatement. Gold's highest value in 1980 was $850/ounce, or ~$28/gram. Assuming ten thousand atoms, the value of the created gold would be 3.3 * 10^-18g * $28/g or approximately a hundred trillionth of a cent. Also, the majority of the transmuted gold was radioactive and would have decayed over the course of the next year.
$endgroup$
– jdunlop
5 hours ago






$begingroup$
"At a net loss", I rather expect, is a major understatement. Gold's highest value in 1980 was $850/ounce, or ~$28/gram. Assuming ten thousand atoms, the value of the created gold would be 3.3 * 10^-18g * $28/g or approximately a hundred trillionth of a cent. Also, the majority of the transmuted gold was radioactive and would have decayed over the course of the next year.
$endgroup$
– jdunlop
5 hours ago














$begingroup$
You get better results when you expose Hg 196 to a high neutron flux. It would create Hg 197, and EC into Au 197, which is stable. But again, would be ridiculously expensive to create a sufficient quantity of it. Especially since Hg196 represents 0.15% of naturally occurring mercury
$endgroup$
– sonvar
2 hours ago






$begingroup$
You get better results when you expose Hg 196 to a high neutron flux. It would create Hg 197, and EC into Au 197, which is stable. But again, would be ridiculously expensive to create a sufficient quantity of it. Especially since Hg196 represents 0.15% of naturally occurring mercury
$endgroup$
– sonvar
2 hours ago













1












$begingroup$

Given your response to existing answers, I have a potentially showy solution for your would-be alchemist:




Calavarite (naturally occurring gold telluride)



Calavarite crystal



It's uncommon in real life, but could be unusually common for whatever reason in the vicinity of wherever this feat is to take place.



Your would-be alchemist/wizard is dropping fancy stones into vitriol, as one does, to see what happens. To his shock, a gleam of gold starts to form as the liquid turns red. He has discovered the Philosopher's Stone!



(He has not. But it's a good way to get more research money from the local royalty!)






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    This is the correct answer.
    $endgroup$
    – Gimelist
    3 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @Gimelist : ^ No it's not : The question was "is there any real-life mineral or element that could be used to artificially create Gold" this answer doesn't answer that question, it suggests a source of gold that gold can be extracted from, & the question wasn't "name an ore that gold can be smelted from" : it's a nice response to the question but to call it the "correct" answer, is not correct.
    $endgroup$
    – Pelinore
    3 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    @Pelinore no - because "gold telluride" does not equal "gold". Just like hydrogen does not equal water. So you're taking "some mineral", being gold telluride (= not gold), and you process it somehow to turn it into gold from "whatever its composite elements are", which happen to be gold and tellurium. There was no condition that gold cannot be a component of the mineral.
    $endgroup$
    – Gimelist
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @Gimelist : all I can say is kindly read the question again & check the definitions of the words "create" & "extract" then reconsider.
    $endgroup$
    – Pelinore
    2 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Pelinore to the "man on the street", or someone in a medieval society with no knowledge of 20th and 21st century chemistry, the distinction in meaningless. When you look at the history of element discovery, many elements were "discovered" only to be later realised to contain a combination of elements. The lanthanides are an excellent example of that.
    $endgroup$
    – Gimelist
    2 hours ago
















1












$begingroup$

Given your response to existing answers, I have a potentially showy solution for your would-be alchemist:




Calavarite (naturally occurring gold telluride)



Calavarite crystal



It's uncommon in real life, but could be unusually common for whatever reason in the vicinity of wherever this feat is to take place.



Your would-be alchemist/wizard is dropping fancy stones into vitriol, as one does, to see what happens. To his shock, a gleam of gold starts to form as the liquid turns red. He has discovered the Philosopher's Stone!



(He has not. But it's a good way to get more research money from the local royalty!)






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    This is the correct answer.
    $endgroup$
    – Gimelist
    3 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @Gimelist : ^ No it's not : The question was "is there any real-life mineral or element that could be used to artificially create Gold" this answer doesn't answer that question, it suggests a source of gold that gold can be extracted from, & the question wasn't "name an ore that gold can be smelted from" : it's a nice response to the question but to call it the "correct" answer, is not correct.
    $endgroup$
    – Pelinore
    3 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    @Pelinore no - because "gold telluride" does not equal "gold". Just like hydrogen does not equal water. So you're taking "some mineral", being gold telluride (= not gold), and you process it somehow to turn it into gold from "whatever its composite elements are", which happen to be gold and tellurium. There was no condition that gold cannot be a component of the mineral.
    $endgroup$
    – Gimelist
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @Gimelist : all I can say is kindly read the question again & check the definitions of the words "create" & "extract" then reconsider.
    $endgroup$
    – Pelinore
    2 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Pelinore to the "man on the street", or someone in a medieval society with no knowledge of 20th and 21st century chemistry, the distinction in meaningless. When you look at the history of element discovery, many elements were "discovered" only to be later realised to contain a combination of elements. The lanthanides are an excellent example of that.
    $endgroup$
    – Gimelist
    2 hours ago














1












1








1





$begingroup$

Given your response to existing answers, I have a potentially showy solution for your would-be alchemist:




Calavarite (naturally occurring gold telluride)



Calavarite crystal



It's uncommon in real life, but could be unusually common for whatever reason in the vicinity of wherever this feat is to take place.



Your would-be alchemist/wizard is dropping fancy stones into vitriol, as one does, to see what happens. To his shock, a gleam of gold starts to form as the liquid turns red. He has discovered the Philosopher's Stone!



(He has not. But it's a good way to get more research money from the local royalty!)






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$



Given your response to existing answers, I have a potentially showy solution for your would-be alchemist:




Calavarite (naturally occurring gold telluride)



Calavarite crystal



It's uncommon in real life, but could be unusually common for whatever reason in the vicinity of wherever this feat is to take place.



Your would-be alchemist/wizard is dropping fancy stones into vitriol, as one does, to see what happens. To his shock, a gleam of gold starts to form as the liquid turns red. He has discovered the Philosopher's Stone!



(He has not. But it's a good way to get more research money from the local royalty!)







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited 3 hours ago









Gimelist

2,038411




2,038411










answered 4 hours ago









jdunlopjdunlop

7,56911643




7,56911643












  • $begingroup$
    This is the correct answer.
    $endgroup$
    – Gimelist
    3 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @Gimelist : ^ No it's not : The question was "is there any real-life mineral or element that could be used to artificially create Gold" this answer doesn't answer that question, it suggests a source of gold that gold can be extracted from, & the question wasn't "name an ore that gold can be smelted from" : it's a nice response to the question but to call it the "correct" answer, is not correct.
    $endgroup$
    – Pelinore
    3 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    @Pelinore no - because "gold telluride" does not equal "gold". Just like hydrogen does not equal water. So you're taking "some mineral", being gold telluride (= not gold), and you process it somehow to turn it into gold from "whatever its composite elements are", which happen to be gold and tellurium. There was no condition that gold cannot be a component of the mineral.
    $endgroup$
    – Gimelist
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @Gimelist : all I can say is kindly read the question again & check the definitions of the words "create" & "extract" then reconsider.
    $endgroup$
    – Pelinore
    2 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Pelinore to the "man on the street", or someone in a medieval society with no knowledge of 20th and 21st century chemistry, the distinction in meaningless. When you look at the history of element discovery, many elements were "discovered" only to be later realised to contain a combination of elements. The lanthanides are an excellent example of that.
    $endgroup$
    – Gimelist
    2 hours ago


















  • $begingroup$
    This is the correct answer.
    $endgroup$
    – Gimelist
    3 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @Gimelist : ^ No it's not : The question was "is there any real-life mineral or element that could be used to artificially create Gold" this answer doesn't answer that question, it suggests a source of gold that gold can be extracted from, & the question wasn't "name an ore that gold can be smelted from" : it's a nice response to the question but to call it the "correct" answer, is not correct.
    $endgroup$
    – Pelinore
    3 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    @Pelinore no - because "gold telluride" does not equal "gold". Just like hydrogen does not equal water. So you're taking "some mineral", being gold telluride (= not gold), and you process it somehow to turn it into gold from "whatever its composite elements are", which happen to be gold and tellurium. There was no condition that gold cannot be a component of the mineral.
    $endgroup$
    – Gimelist
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @Gimelist : all I can say is kindly read the question again & check the definitions of the words "create" & "extract" then reconsider.
    $endgroup$
    – Pelinore
    2 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Pelinore to the "man on the street", or someone in a medieval society with no knowledge of 20th and 21st century chemistry, the distinction in meaningless. When you look at the history of element discovery, many elements were "discovered" only to be later realised to contain a combination of elements. The lanthanides are an excellent example of that.
    $endgroup$
    – Gimelist
    2 hours ago
















$begingroup$
This is the correct answer.
$endgroup$
– Gimelist
3 hours ago




$begingroup$
This is the correct answer.
$endgroup$
– Gimelist
3 hours ago




1




1




$begingroup$
@Gimelist : ^ No it's not : The question was "is there any real-life mineral or element that could be used to artificially create Gold" this answer doesn't answer that question, it suggests a source of gold that gold can be extracted from, & the question wasn't "name an ore that gold can be smelted from" : it's a nice response to the question but to call it the "correct" answer, is not correct.
$endgroup$
– Pelinore
3 hours ago






$begingroup$
@Gimelist : ^ No it's not : The question was "is there any real-life mineral or element that could be used to artificially create Gold" this answer doesn't answer that question, it suggests a source of gold that gold can be extracted from, & the question wasn't "name an ore that gold can be smelted from" : it's a nice response to the question but to call it the "correct" answer, is not correct.
$endgroup$
– Pelinore
3 hours ago














$begingroup$
@Pelinore no - because "gold telluride" does not equal "gold". Just like hydrogen does not equal water. So you're taking "some mineral", being gold telluride (= not gold), and you process it somehow to turn it into gold from "whatever its composite elements are", which happen to be gold and tellurium. There was no condition that gold cannot be a component of the mineral.
$endgroup$
– Gimelist
2 hours ago




$begingroup$
@Pelinore no - because "gold telluride" does not equal "gold". Just like hydrogen does not equal water. So you're taking "some mineral", being gold telluride (= not gold), and you process it somehow to turn it into gold from "whatever its composite elements are", which happen to be gold and tellurium. There was no condition that gold cannot be a component of the mineral.
$endgroup$
– Gimelist
2 hours ago




1




1




$begingroup$
@Gimelist : all I can say is kindly read the question again & check the definitions of the words "create" & "extract" then reconsider.
$endgroup$
– Pelinore
2 hours ago




$begingroup$
@Gimelist : all I can say is kindly read the question again & check the definitions of the words "create" & "extract" then reconsider.
$endgroup$
– Pelinore
2 hours ago












$begingroup$
@Pelinore to the "man on the street", or someone in a medieval society with no knowledge of 20th and 21st century chemistry, the distinction in meaningless. When you look at the history of element discovery, many elements were "discovered" only to be later realised to contain a combination of elements. The lanthanides are an excellent example of that.
$endgroup$
– Gimelist
2 hours ago




$begingroup$
@Pelinore to the "man on the street", or someone in a medieval society with no knowledge of 20th and 21st century chemistry, the distinction in meaningless. When you look at the history of element discovery, many elements were "discovered" only to be later realised to contain a combination of elements. The lanthanides are an excellent example of that.
$endgroup$
– Gimelist
2 hours ago


















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