Where Have the Most Gold, Silver, and Other Precious Metals Been Found?

You have just landed upon a gold mine of information! Here at Kylar Mack, we are passionate about jewelry and the materials used to craft it. It is important to us to understand the quality, origin, and history of the precious metals that not only make our products possible, but also the world economy as a whole. We have minted a comprehensive guide to where the most gold, silver, and other precious metals have been found across the globe. You will discover where the most gold has been found, where the most silver has been found, where the most platinum has been found, and even where the most palladium has been found. This visualization is a treasure trove of knowledge that we hope will make you feel rich with fun facts! Let’s start digging:

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How much gold has been found so far?

According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, around 244,000 metric tons of gold has been discovered so far (187,000 metric tons that have been produced plus underground reserves of 57,000 metric tons). How much gold is there currently? To put the amount of gold worldwide into perspective, imagine a cube that is 23 meters wide on every side, which is about one-and-one-fifth times as long as a bowling lane. All of the gold in the world discovered so far could fit into that cube. The World Gold Council estimates that of the existing gold above ground, 45% of it is jewelry, 22% is bars and coins, 17% is in central banks, and 15% is classified as other.

How much gold is left on the planet?

As stated earlier, there are around 57,000 metric tons of gold that has left to be mined. How much gold is still undiscovered? Rough estimates suggest that there is about 20% of gold left to be extracted from the Earth. New technologies have made it possible to locate sources of gold, but they are not currently economical to access. Recent innovations in robotics and artificial intelligence may mean more gold on the horizon!

Where has the most gold been found?

Where is gold most commonly found on Earth? China, Australia, and the United States are the countries where the most gold has been found. Gold in China accounts for 11.8% of the world total since 2000, gold in Australia accounts for 10%, and gold in the United States accounts for 8.5%. Gold in Russia accounts for 8%, making it a close fourth behind America.

The Gold Rush was a notorious part of American history, but can you still find gold in America? According to the Smithsonian, you could still strike gold in the rocky sediment of Nevada’s deserts, along the shores of the American River in California, throughout the Alaskan Yukon River, in some abandoned Colorado mining hot spots, and in Arizona’s Lynx Creek.

What is the largest gold mine in the world?

Where has the most gold ever been found? The South Deep gold mine in the Witwatersrand Basin of South Africa is the largest gold mine in the world (by reserves). It boasts a mineral reserve of 32.19 million ounces which is equivalent to 80,740 gold bullion bars! The current Life-of-Mine (LOM) is estimated to be around 80 years, lasting until 2101. That means it is likely to be the last mine operating in South Africa, long after most other mines run out of reserves.

How much silver has been found so far?

The U.S. Department of the Interior states that around 1,740,000 metric tons of silver have been discovered, with 55% found in just four countries on this planet. All of the silver discovered would fit in a 55-meter cube, which is about half as long as an American football field. How much silver is left? While estimates vary, it is believed that around 560,000 metric tons of silver is left to be mined. Due to the nature of silver, it is also possible that more deposits will be discovered. Silver is often found alloyed with gold or other precious metals. In fact, most silver (around 80%) is obtained as a byproduct of refining other metals.

Where has the most silver been found? 

The biggest producers of silver are Mexico, Peru, and China. Since 2000, silver in Mexico accounts for  19% of the world total, silver in Peru accounts for 14.7%, and silver in China accounts for 12.9%.

Is there a shortage of silver?

You may have heard that the world is experiencing a silver deficit. According to the Silver Institute, a major contributor to the silver shortage is that global silver demand is expected to reach record-breaking heights in 2024. Why is silver demand increasing? Silver is a crucial component in the manufacturing of solar panels due to its thermal efficiency, optical reflectivity, and high electrical conductivity. With solar panel installations breaking records each year, silver demand is following suit.

Where is the most platinum found?

Where is the most platinum mined? South Africa has mined the world’s greatest share of platinum by far at 73.3% since 2000! Palladium is a part of the platinum group metals (PGM), which includes ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum. Therefore, these metals are often discovered and mined together. While South Africa is also a major player in palladium mining volume (37%), Russia narrowly beats it in terms of where the most palladium is found (40.8%).

 

Looking to grow your own collection of gold, silver, and other precious metals? Kylar Mack offers a unique collection of gold stacking bracelets, silver stacking bracelets, and so much more!

 

Read on for the Full List of Where the Most Gold, Silver, and Other Precious Metals Have Been Found

The 10 Countries That Have Mined the Most Gold

	Countries	Total Metric Tons Mined 2000-2023	Percent of World Total
1	China	7,868	11.8%
2	Australia	6,678	10.0%
3	United States	5,682	8.5%
4	Russia	5,351	8.0%
5	South Africa	5,096	7.6%
6	Peru	3,570	5.4%
7	Canada	3,461	5.2%
8	Indonesia	2,563	3.8%
9	Mexico	1,663	2.5%
10	Uzbekistan	1,642	2.5%
	World Total	66,700

The 10 Countries That Have Mined the Most Silver

	Countries	Total Metric Tons Mined 2000-2023	Percent of World Total
1	Mexico	105,400	19.0%
2	Peru	81,567	14.7%
3	China	71,620	12.9%
4	Australia	39,773	7.2%
5	Chile	30,444	5.5%
6	United States	28,531	5.1%
7	Poland	27,646	5.0%
8	Russia	23,090	4.2%
9	Bolivia	19,484	3.5%
10	Canada	13,694	2.5%
	World total	554,100

The 5 Countries That Have Mined the Most Platinum

	Countries	Total Kilograms Mined 2000-2023	Percent of World Total
1	South Africa	3,305,000	73.3%
2	Russia	619,000	13.7%
3	Zimbabwe	214,270	4.8%
4	Canada	167,750	3.7%
5	United States	90,970	2.0%
	World total	4,506,000

The 5 Countries That Have Mined the Most Palladium

	Countries	Total Kilograms Mined 2000-2023	Percent of World Total
1	Russia	2,008,500	40.8%
2	South Africa	1,820,100	37.0%
3	Canada	346,900	7.1%
4	United States	307,300	6.2%
5	Zimbabwe	165,170	3.4%
	World total	4,918,000

 

Sources:

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/gold-statistics-and-information

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/silver-statistics-and-information

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/platinum-group-metals-statistics-and-information