Posted on 07/08/2025 7:32:39 AM PDT by Red Badger
The cube would probably look a little something like this. Image credit: Clark Ukidu / Shutterstock
Hearing stories of the largest gold nugget ever found, or the recent 2.6 kilogram (5.7 pound) discovery by an amateur aussie gold hunter, you might be fooled into thinking we’ve discovered a massive amount of gold on Earth.
Well, it might come as a surprise to learn that all the gold discovered so far could fit inside a puny 23 by 23 meter (75 by 75 foot) cube – that’s about the length of a cricket pitch. Despite its relatively small size, this cube would weigh eight times as much as the Statue of Liberty.
How much gold have we found? The estimated amount of gold mined throughout history is said to be around 187,000 tons, with the total discovered amount being about 244,000 tons. And thanks to gold’s virtually indestructible nature and its ability to be recycled, pretty much all of this is still around.
Around 2,756 to 3,307 tons of gold are mined each year, with more than 30 percent of all gold coming from the Witwatersrand Basin mine in South Africa. Currently, China is the biggest miner of gold, while the single largest gold-mining complex is Barrick Gold’s Nevada Gold Mines, which produces a whopping 99,223 kilograms (3.5 million ounces) a year.
How much is still underground?
The gold left in the ground is measured either as “reserves”, which are economical to mine at current gold prices, or “resources”, which need more investigation to establish if they’re economical, or need to be sold at a higher price.
The US Geological Survey estimates below-ground reserves to be around 57,000 tons, that’s about 20 percent of discovered gold that is yet to be mined. This would mean we could potentially mine all currently known gold reserves in just over 17 years.
But advances in mining technology are making it both easier to discover new reserves and more economical to mine resources, so it’s not likely we’ll pillage all of Earth’s gold any time soon.
Mining companies are now flocking to Victoria, Australia, in what they’re calling a “second gold rush”. Here, they’re utilizing updated understandings of rock formation to better predict the location of gold preserves, and today’s modern drilling equipment is allowing for a higher yield.
Gold in hard-to-reach places There are also a number of gold preserves we’re aware of on Earth that are not economical to mine, and likely never will be.
Known deposits in Antarctica would require extensive equipment and risk to retrieve in the continent’s harsh climate. Similarly, there’s thought to be gold throughout the ocean floor, but with no viable way of getting to it, the value of the yield would never justify the advances.
Looking further afield, there are also gold preserves on the Moon. While we might one day have a lunar base, currently, mining Moon-gold would cost much more than the market value. But maybe the Artemis II crew should pack their gold pans just in case.
Ping!................
Interesting.
What cube?
I believe I recall reading — when I was young — that this cube was 14’x14’x14’. May have been a Ripley’s snippet.
There’s a lot of undiscovered gold out there somewhere...
Yeah, never mind the gold, I wanna see the two dinensional cube.
What cube?
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You should read the article.
Exactly why it has been Wealth for over 4,000 years, paper comes and goes…one must ask why are the World’s Central Banks buying historic, record amounts of Gold?
Some of us know the answer, the “ herd” doesn’t.
How much space would all the bitcoins in the world take up?
“How much space would all the bitcoins in the world take up?”
If every bitcoin represented one atom, there would be more atoms than there are in the universe.
How much space would all the bitcoins in the world take up?
Good question. My guess is from your mouse to your screen and back.
“All The Gold Discovered In The World Would Fit In A 23 x 23 Meter Cube”
The last time I looked at a cube it had 3 dimensions.
“I believe I recall reading — when I was young — that this cube was 14’x14’x14’. May have been a Ripley’s snippet.”
I remember when it was supposedly a 10’ X 10’ X 10’ cube which seemed ridiculously too small.
Useless photo without perspective of another object.
What is gold's current worth? Don't measure in terms of US dollars.
How much does it take to acquire it? Again, no US dollars.
How much can you make from it in trade? No dollars.
My point is that people like to measure gold against a monetary system. Gold itself is not a good currency or form of money.
Nothing against gold - for those who want to hold it as an asset. Let's just not make it into something it's not.
Having said that - we definitely need to move away from debt-based money.
There’s a lot of undiscovered gold out there somewhere...
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The hunt is on, as is this current generational Gold Bull market we have entered. All aboard! ……..and don’t forget little brother Silver…Hi, Ho Silver.
“… that’s about the length of a cricket pitch.”
That really helps an American visualize the cube size!
Let’s just not make it into something it’s not.
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Exactly, it is Wealth and has been for 4,000 years. Most can not grasp the difference between “ money “ and Wealth.
I thought it was in a bank in the middle of Beverly Hills in somebody else’s name.
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