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The Archive

Every story we have published about the metal.

20 long-form pieces across history, markets, industry, craft, mining and science. Filter by desk, re-sort, or search the full text of every issue.

Molten gold poured from a crucible into ingot moulds inside a refinery

Industry

Nine Nines: Inside a Modern Gold Refinery

A doré bar arrives at 85 per cent purity and leaves at 99.99. Between those two numbers sit chlorine gas, aqua regia, an electrolytic cell and a chain of custody that is now as valuable as the metal itself.

2 July 2026 · 12 min read

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