Gold

One of the most versatile metals, gold is used in jewellery, medicine and electronics.

Gold (Au)

Gold is the most malleable and ductile of all elements. While jewellery accounts for approximately half of global gold demand, it is also an important metal in electronics and is used in applications such as semiconductors and printed circuit boards.

China is the leading producer of gold, although Australia holds the largest share of global reserves. China is also the world’s largest consumer of gold, while Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates are major hubs for the refining and trade of gold.

Gold is associated with a large range of ESG issues stemming from both large-scale mining (LSM) and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) supply chains, which comprises 20% of annual production of newly extracted gold. It is strongly associated with reports of pollution, community rights violations, violence and conflict, labour rights, child labour, corruption, and non-payment of taxes.

Main uses and applications

Gold has many uses across sectors, making it a highly valuable metal. It is used in jewellery, metalwork, and in computer processors. Gold has long been used in electronics; its use in electronics including semiconductors, printed circuit boards and electrical contacts is common. Gold also has applications in the medical and healthcare sector, for example as dental fillings and in radiography. Importantly, it is also a financial instrument and plays a key role in the global economy including currency reserve (for example, bullion or coins),

The usefulness of gold derives from the diversity of its special properties. Gold is one of the densest of all metals; it is lustrous, highly durable, soft, and resistant to corrosion. Gold has high electrical and thermal conductivity, and is the most malleable and the most ductile of all elements.