Do you mean to say, "why is gold gold," concerning why it's gold in color, or as why people adorn it so, or why it's so valued, or what has formed it to be gold? When asking a question about something, it's a good point to make a point to be less generalized, as it helps both the person answering to give an answer more to the specific point(s) for they to whom had asked it. So, here we go with the entirety known by me regarding that creator of frenzy and greed, GOLD! How it's formed: Gold first forms from a granite intrusion that is cooling and crystallizing may contain a tiny amount of gold. All through the cooling melt, elements are coming together to make crystals, but none of the gold is, yet. As the amount of liquid decreases, the relative amount of the gold in it goes up, so this is the first step in concentration. The final bits of the granite to crystallize will be enriched in gold. When the granite is finally solid, but still hot, ground water and water that used to be dissolved in the magma will be circulating through cracks in the granite. When that hot water encounters minerals containing the gold, the incompatibility of the gold will lead those minerals to break down more easily than their neighbors and release the gold into solution. As the water moves away from the granite, it is now carrying the gold, which is even more concentrated than it was before. The water begins to cool off and as it does minerals begin to precipitate. Again, gold will remain in the solution as long as possible, so it is often one of the last things to crystallize. By then, it may be concentrated enough that it will grow its own crystals of pure gold (small cubes, octahedrons, and wire-like shapes) rather than trying to fit into other crystal structures. These minerals are left behind in the cracks that the water was moving through, forming veins. It is those veins that the miners then follow as they mine their ore (rocks containing the concentrated gold, silver, or other metals). A Brief History: Maybe, someone forraging finds a shiny rock in a creek, thousands of years ago, and the human race is introduced to gold for the first time. Gold was first discovered as shining, yellow nuggets. "Gold is where you find it," so the saying goes, and gold was first discovered in its natural state, in streams all over the world. No doubt it was the first metal known to early hominids. Gold became a part of every human culture. Its brilliance, natural beauty, and luster, and its great malleability and resistance to tarnish made it enjoyable to work and play with. Because gold is dispersed widely throughout the geologic world, its discovery occurred to many different groups in many different locales. And nearly everyone who found it was impressed with it, and so was the developing culture in which they lived. Gold was the first metal widely known to our species. When thinking about the historical progress of technology, we consider the development of iron- and copper-working as the greatest contributions to our species' economic and cultural progress - but gold came first. Gold is the easiest of the metals. It occurs in a virtually pure and workable state, whereas most other metals tend to be found in ore-bodies that pose some difficulty in smelting. Gold's early uses were no doubt ornamental, and its brilliance and permanence (it neither corrodes nor tarnishes) linked it to deities and royalty in early civilizations. Gold has always been powerful stuff. The earliest history of human interaction with gold is long lost to us, but its association with the gods, with immortality, and with wealth itself are common to many cultures throughout the world. Early civilizations equated gold with gods and rulers, and gold was sought in their name and dedicated to their glorification. Humans almost intuitively place a high value on gold, equating it with power, beauty, and the cultural elite. And since gold is widely distributed all over the globe, we find this same thinking about gold throughout ancient and modern civilizations everywhere. Gold, beauty, and power have always gone together. Gold in ancient times was made into shrines and idols ("the Golden Calf"), plates, cups, vases and vessels of all kinds, and of course, jewelry for personal adornment Why it's valuable: The main reason gold is valuable is because it is appreciated around the world. Its glowing appearance, durability, and malleability, or ability to be shaped into many different forms, are universally recognized, and it has been accepted worldwide as payment for goods and services for centuries. Leaders of the Roman Empire, were hungry for gold, as well as land and power, so they conquered Spanish, Egyptian, Gaelic, and Balkan lands. With gold from these places, Romans could trade in Asia, where they used it to buy other treasures. Most of the Romans' east-west trading was done along a route called the Silk Road. Beginning in 200 BC, this system of roads linked Europe with Asia, and by A.D.200, it was the longest road in the world. European traders took gold, silver, and wool east on the road. In Asia merchants traded fine silk material, gems, and spices. Gold Roman coins, probably used to pay for these items, have been found throughout Asia. Most traders did not complete the 4,000-mile (6,437-kilometer) Silk Road. They traveled in fear of food and water shortages, dangerous sandstorms in the desert, and raiding parties. Most traders traveled the road on foot, often encountering deserted and unpredictable terrain. But for some traders the trip was worthwhile because of the value of silk, which was rare in ancient Rome during the road's beginnings. The value continues today due to it's rarity and such can be given a true measure knowing there will not be a certain glut some day making it as worthless in abundance as aluminum, the current most abundant metal. I do hope something here answers the exacting category as to your asking, and that we all someday might have more than a hankering for it in abundance. May you be well, find your abundance, and Peace!