Treasures of the Earth - Precious Metals 

All through the ages, people have been captivated by precious metals, crystals, and gemstones, from ostentatious show of wealth such as diamonds and sapphires mounted on rings, to practical uses such as gold sheaths on stereo-system plugs and other gold-laden devices. Why are these precious metals so highly prized?
The wealth of nations is often tied to the richness of their mineral depositis. In fact, one such spirited dispute centers around who gets the right to exploit the minerals of Antarctica.

Ores are rocks that contain extractable minerals. They are usually found in “veins” – cracks in the rock where hot fluids once flowed leaving rich deposit behind. The ores are mined and processed to produce pure, precious metals such as platinum, gold, silver, titanium, copper, and iron.
For ages, gold and silver have been prized possessions. The quest for gold drove explorers to the shores of the New World and sent prospectors across America and Canada to California, Alaska, and the Yukon in the “Gold Rushes” of the 19th century.
Australian miners rushed to locations where they thought gold might be found. Those who found no gold turned to opal mining instead. Australia is known for opals.
It is interesting to note that for all its wealth of mythology, gold does not qualify as the earth’s most precious metal. It is platinum that gets the distinction. Platinum is worth twice as much as gold.