[chaboud]

Actual industrial/product use of gold is less than 10%. A massive amount of gold is used for store of wealth. If gold became less scarce, it would be less expensive.

The Washington monument capstone is aluminum because aluminum was expensive in 1884. Now we make beverage containers out of aluminum. (note: I have no intention of using gold for beverage containers... I like my skin not blue)

[MereInterest]

> (note: I have no intention of using gold for beverage containers... I like my skin not blue)

I thought gold was biologically inert. Any chance you’re thinking of argyria, which is caused by exposure to elemental silver?

[chaboud]

Gold salts (e.g., old arthritis treatment) can lead to gold poisoning, but I was really just making a joke. If you have a gold chalice in your cupboard, I think you’ll be alright.

[ndsipa_pomu]

As others have posted, you're confusing gold with silver which can turn your skin blue (consuming lots of colloidal silver seems to be the main culprit).

Or at least I hope so as I've got a gold (plated?) AeroPress metal filter which works great although I've not noticed any metallic taste from other metal filters.

[josephcsible]

> I like my skin not blue

Isn't that problem just with silver, not gold?