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Re:The periodic table, colour coded by the likely origin of ... by hermitcrab on Tuesday August 11, 2020 @10:01AM (#24120317)
The follow up question is, how come the different elements aren't uniformly mixed within the earth. Or perhaps formed into stratified layers with the densest at the centre? E.g. Why are there 'deposits' of gold relatively close to the surface? Something to do with interaction of the physical and chemical properties of the elements with local variations in conditions?
Re:The periodic table, colour coded by the likely origin of ... by dredmorbius on Tuesday August 11, 2020 @02:30PM (#24123952)
The Earth is mostly stratified: light rocky silicate crust, heavier (though also rocky) magnesium-silicate mantle, core of mostly nickle-iron and heavier elements, which formed during the iron catastrophe.

Crustal deposits of heavier minerals largely result from late bombardment (after the crust had formed, about 100 million years after Earth's formation itself), geothermal and tectonic activity (volcanism, rift zones, vents), and biological mobilisation and concentration (e.g., lighter elements in coal and limestone, but notably, banded iron formations). Events such as the hypothesized Tethys collision could of course also have influenced distribution.

Gold forms veins typically in quartzes through differential precipitation AFAIU.

Ore formation is its own fascinating subfield of geology, and is underappreciated by many advocates of space mining.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abundance_of_elements_in_Earth...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_differentiation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_catastrophe

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ore_genesis

Re:The periodic table, colour coded by the likely origin of ... by ncmncm on Tuesday August 11, 2020 @11:22AM (#24121250)
All Earth's primordial gold sank. So, all the gold we find or mine came from meteorites (including dust) after solidification. Most has been dissolved in water.
Re:The periodic table, colour coded by the likely origin of ... by changoplatanero on Tuesday August 11, 2020 @10:18AM (#24120481)
Yes you're right. Geologic and biologic processes unevenly distribute the elements
Re:The periodic table, colour coded by the likely origin of ... by HarryHirsch on Tuesday August 11, 2020 @11:03AM (#24121023)
The keyword is "Goldschmidt classification": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldschmidt_classification

Those who would like to know more could do worse than pick up Greenwood's & Earnshaw's book (this one: https://www.amazon.com/-/dp/0750633654) from the nearest university library, it has a chapter on nucleogenesis and cosmic and geologic abundances.