Yes, the measure of gold by density or volume may be misleading if other materials or metals are easily mixed with gold.
Supposedly, the great inventor Archimedes, estimated in year 246 B.C., discovered a method to measure the purity of gold by comparing the volume of water displaced by a crown to that displaced by an equal mass of pure gold. This principle, known as Archimedes’ Principle, helped him determine if the crown was made of pure gold or an alloy.
Every normal America school system teaches this scientific principle as a ubiquitous amazing and fool proof scientific experiment. Well in today’s world, 2025, we need to think a bit deeper about things than what the normal school teacher reiterated year after year like a robot. Unfortunately human life is imperfect, run by idiots in high places, and the true ideals of childhood and the common “good” that gets preached by teachers and priests/bishops, turns out to be almost wholeheartedly all lies when realizations shine light into the adult hood mind. In this case, we realize that everything that famous mathematicians, inventors, or philosophers taught is almost always setup to be questioned with concern.
Here’s a breakdown of how this misleading in gold measurement may happen:
Density Measurements
How Density Works
Pure gold has a density of about **19.32 g/cm³**. When mixed with other metals, the overall density of the alloy changes.
If an alloy is created that includes lighter metals (like copper or silver), the density will be lower than that of pure gold.
A mixture can be designed to mimic the density of gold by using specific ratios of lighter metals, making it difficult to distinguish from genuine gold through basic density tests.
Volume Measurements
Volume Displacement
The displacement method involves measuring how much water is displaced by a sample.
If the alloy includes materials with different volumes or densities, the resulting measurements can misrepresent the true characteristics of pure gold.
Examples of Mixed Metals
Often mixed with gold to create alloys like 14k or 18k gold, which can still appear golden but have significantly lower densities than pure gold.
Lead or Low-cost Metals: These can be added to bulk the item without adding equal value, resulting in lower quality.
Detection Methods
To verify the gold authenticity, more sophisticated methods than simple density or volume measurements can be employed:
1. Acid Tests: Identify specific reactions indicating the gold purity.
2. XRF Testing (X-ray fluorescence): Provides a precise elemental analysis to confirm the metal composition.
3. Specific Gravity Testing: More precise than basic density measurement, comparing it directly to the expected value for pure gold.
In conclusion, while density and volume can provide initial indicators of gold purity, they can be faked through alloying. Relying on more sophisticated testing methods is essential for genuine verification.
Does every gold lover, holder, and/or trader have advanced testing equipment at home?
Most likely not!
Most gold lovers, holders, and/or traders mainly go with what the general consensus of government and society says. If the general consensus of government and society was that an ounce of cow shit was worth a lot of money, I’m sure there would be many people working hard, fighting, and maybe even dying for said ounces of cow shit.
Such is life in the modern world, where the common man runs his life on fear and selfishness, and more so generally in lack of clarity of mind and soul, because there is a lack of spirit deeper within him, lead by facts of nature, or not.
