I was reading up on the possibility of the physical transmutation of mercury, which we have in abundance as waste from the oil companies, into gold, with the use of gamma radiation, and the conclusion reached was that the energy required would make the cost of the gold about $18,000/ounce.
However, this would be “basic science laboratory transmutation.” Technological production of transmuted gold could likely improve this efficiency considerably.
For example, the idea of gamma radiation passing through a single “thin sheet” of mercury, resulting in a small number of gold molecules, would be inefficient, since most mercury molecules would be missed. However, having that radiation pass through a thousand layered sheets raises the odds of a productive collision considerably.
Well, while your zapping mercury, I think I’ll take a look at silver. Something very interesting going on there.