The mineral that started a modern day boom.

Nevada is known as the Silver State, but today it is the 4th largest producer of gold in the world. In 2016, the state produce over 5.4 million ounces, ranking only behind only China, Australia, and Russia.

Here are 5 facts you may not know about gold:

1) Nevada accounts for roughly 75% of all annual US gold production.

2) The Carlin Trend in northeastern Nevada is one the largest gold producing regions in the world. The trend has produced over 85 million ounces since 1965.

3) Gold has many uses, aside from its financial, aesthetic and symbolic value. Some of its other uses include electronics, dentistry, medicine, radiation shielding and adding color to glass

4) The human body contains gold. The average person has 0.2 milligrams of gold in their bloodstream.

5) Gold is chemically liquefied and injected into the muscles of thousands of rheumatoid arthritis victims in the U.S., and the treatment is reported to be successful in seven out of ten cases. Researchers are even using gold in cancer research.

Want more information about gold? Check out our minerals page to learn more about gold and the 20+ minerals mined in Nevada.