Gold is an inert element therefore it is not actually formed, but instead exists in its natural state contained within the earth's crust.

How long does gold take to form?

On average, it takes between 10-20 years before a gold mine is even ready to produce material that can be refined.

How much gold is still undiscovered?

The below-ground stock of gold reserves is currently estimated to be around 50,000 tonnes, according to the US Geological Survey. To put that in perspective, around 190,000 tonnes of gold has been mined in total, although estimates do vary. Based on these rough figures, there is about 20% still to be mined.