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Gold occurs in relatively pure state as thin veins in rocks. Gold is used for making ornaments and provides the backing for currency. Gold rush has led to the colonization of South America, Australia and western United States.

South Africa is the largest producer of gold. She produced 710 thousand kilograms in 1988 i.e. about 60.4 per cent of world's total. The Witwaterstrand is the leading gold producing centre of the world. Johannesburg, Germiston, Benoni, Booksburg and Krugersdorp are the important towns noted for gold production. Canada is the second largest producer of gold, with a production of 143 thousand kgs. in 1985 i.e., l2 percent of world's gold. More than 25 percent of world's gold production comes from North America. U.S.A produced 51 thousand kgs. of gold in 1988. Australia has gold reserves in Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria. The producing centres are Ballarat and Bendigo in Victoria, Charlestown and Mt. Morgan in Queensland and Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.

India produced 5 thousand kgs. of gold in 1988. Production of gold is concentrated in Kolar district in Karnataka. The proved reserves are about 3.8 million tons in Kolar. Total production of gold in India is about 0.5 per cent of world total.

Silver: Silver has a wider use than gold. It is used in photographic industry, dentistry and in the manufacture of luxury articles.

Silver is found pure and in combination with gold, lead and copper. World production of silver in 1988 amounted to 7.5 thousand metric tons. Mexico and U.SA produced 1.4 thousand metric tons and 1.2 thousand metric tons respectively in 1988. Canada and Peru supplied 1.2 thousand metric tons and 1.1 thousand metric tons of silver in 1988. Most of the silver production in Mexico comes from the mines in Pachuca in the state of Hidalgo and the state of Chihuahua.

In U.S.A silver is produced in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Texas, Colorado and Arizona. The production of silver in Canada is mainly concentrated in Ontario and British Columbia. In Peru silver is raised along with lead and copper from the mines of Cerro de Pasco.

The Badwin of Burma is the largest producer of silver in Asia. Germany, Russia, Yugoslavia and Spain are the important silver producers in Europe. Japan and India also produce silver.

In India production of silver was 6 tons in 1985 and most of it came from Zawar mines in Rajasthan. Silver in India is raised with gold in the Kolar gold field, with lead in Zawar mines and with copper in Manbhum.

Platinum: Platinum is costlier than gold and is used for jewellery, photography, electrical and chemical industries. Platinum is obtained as a by-product of refining other metallic ores chiefly nickel.

Canada is the world's biggest producer (60%) with mining centres in Ontario and British Columbia. Sudbury nickel mines yield platinum also. Russia has largest reserves of platinum in the world but stands second in production, amounting to 20% of total world output. Other major producers are South Africa, USA and Australia.

Precious stones - Diamonds are the most precious among the gemstones, others being ruby, sapphire, emerald and jade.

South Africa has been the world's largest diamond producing country in the past. Now Zaire in Central Africa is the leading producer. The production is mostly of industrial variety of diamonds. South Africa is the leading producer of diamonds for jewellery. Other producers are Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Angola and Tanzania. The continent of Africa accounts for almost the entire world production of diamonds, because oldest rocks are eroded and exposed on the plateau. Brazil, Venezuela and India also produce diamonds.

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