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we dnt no :)
We can only estimate. There are two types of crust: continental and oceanic. By volume the continental makes up about 70% and the oceanic makes up about 30%. Continental crust varies from 30 to 70km thick (with an avearge of 40km or so) and has an average density of 2.7 g/cm^3. Oceanic crust varies from 5 to 10km thick (with an average of 8km or so) and a density of about 3.3 g/cm^3. We can calculate the weighted average for the thickness of the total crust and get an estimate of about 30.4 km:
70% * 40 km + 30% * 8 km = 30.4km
Calculate the volume of the total crust as the difference between the total volume of the Earth and the volume less the crust. Using an average radius on Earth of 6371km:
4/3 * pi * (6371 km^3 - 6340.6 km^3) = 1.54321 *10^10 km^3 = 1.54321 *10^19m^3
Remember that by volume this is 70% continental and 30% oceanic. Using this and the densities given above we can calculate the masses of each part of the crust:
Continental:
1.54321 *10^19 m^3 * 70% * 2700 kg/m^3 = 2.92 * 10^22 kg
Oceanic:
1.54321 *10^19 m^3 * 30% * 3300 kg/m^3 = 1.53 * 10^22 kg
This gives a total bulk mass of the crust of around 4.45 * 10^22 kg.
A quick search on the internet tells me that the average gold grade in the bulk crust is 0.0011 ppm gold. This equates to 0.0011 grams of gold per tonne of crust. So:
4.45 * 10^22 kg = 4.45 *10^19 tonnes
4.45 * 10^19 tonnes * 0.0011 g/tonne = 4.90 * 10^16 g of gold
This works out to approximately 50 billion tonnes of gold, or at current gold prices (~$1200/ounce) approximately $2,000,000,000,000,000,000! (of course with that much gold available, I doubt gold prices would stay at $1200 an ounce).
Of course the are all estimates, but the moral of the story is that if you could find a way to economically extract this gold, you would be a very rich person.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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Were the most common metals in the earths crust discovered first?
gold
How do you extract gold from the earths crust?
u dig a hole and mine NOT HARD
Earths crust is part of the?
The earths crust is a part of the outermost layer.
How do you get silicon out of earths crust?
Silicon is a mixture of the minerals of the earths crust. so.... silicon isn't something from the earths crust. -thanks for your question.
Compared to earths continental crust earths oceanic crust is?
thinner and denser
What metal is found as itself in the earths crust?
Iron , Aluminium and Copper Can Be Found , Also Gold Can Be Found Uncombined in the Earths Crust .
Were the most common metals in the earths crust discovered first?
gold
Why did Boudicca wear a gold medalinan come from?
Comes from the sun and earths crust
How do you extract gold from the earths crust?
u dig a hole and mine NOT HARD
Which is hotter the sun or the earths crust?
The Suns surface is about 6,000K much hotter than the Earths crust. The hottest lava can get at the surface is about 1,400K
How Much Aluminum Is Found In The Earths Crust?
8.1% by weight
What is much of earths crust made up of?
Water 75%
Earths crust is part of the?
The earths crust is a part of the outermost layer.
How do you get silicon out of earths crust?
Silicon is a mixture of the minerals of the earths crust. so.... silicon isn't something from the earths crust. -thanks for your question.
Compared to earths continental crust earths oceanic crust is?
thinner and denser
What is the size of the earths crust?
The Earths crust is approximately 650 km deep.
How is gold removed from the earth?
i think gold is removed from the earth by the earths crust and by mining(digging)for long.When they mine for long the gold get removed from the earth. That's all is what I have to say.Thank you.
