Alluvial gold varies in fineness from about 500 to 999. The greater fineness of alluvial gold is due to the silver content in the outer layer of the grains or nuggets having been removed through dissolution by water. Uses of gold Because of colour, durability, malleability and occurrence in the native state, gold was one of the first metals to attract the attention of man. Highly valued by the earliest civilisations, golden ornaments of various styles and beauty survive to the present day. Gold has long been the basis for international monetary exchange.
Gold is used extensively in jewellery, for ornamental and decorative purposes.
The ability of gold to reflect electromagnetic waves promotes its use as a protective coating for space-craft equipment. Geology of gold mineralisation Primary gold occurrences in Fiji are generally classified as being of three types - 'epithermal', 'porphyry copper' or 'massive sulphide'. Such occurrences can be very large, e.g. Waisoi porphyry-copper deposit at Namosi, but the gold grade is very low. Exploration companies have used the epithermal model extensively particularly during the 1980s. Epithermal systems are common in Fiji and many contain at least some gold but the biggest problem is to find sufficient gold to justify a mining operation.