Native element minerals

The last Games where champions wore pure gold around their necks took place in Stockholm 104 years ago. Today, an Olympic gold medal consists of 92.5 percent silver, 6.2 percent copper and 1.3 percent gold. If its worth is measured in weight, then a gold medal from this year's Olympics is worth about US $550.

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Forget diamonds, scientists have designed a new type of hard stone that is harder and brighter than naturally formed diamonds. In the third phase of development, Q-carbon is a distinct form of carbon, with properties distinct from graphite and diamonds. The only place where these stones can be found naturally are at the cores of some other planets – or, earth scientists’ laboratories!