Gold

I am a tiny, shiny sparkle hiding in rivers and deep in the ground. I have a warm, sunny color, and I love to glitter and gleam when the light catches me. People have to look very carefully to find me, sometimes sifting through sand or digging in the earth. I wait patiently, like a secret, for someone to discover me. Do you know who I am?.

I am Gold. For thousands and thousands of years, people have thought I was special. Way back around 4000 BCE, people first learned to shape me into beautiful things. They noticed that I never get rusty or dull, so they thought I was like a little piece of the sun you could hold in your hand. In a warm, sandy place called Ancient Egypt, they made me into amazing treasures for their pharaohs, who were like kings and queens. One famous king, Tutankhamun, who lived around 1323 BCE, even had a famous mask made entirely of me to wear for his forever-sleep.

Today, I still love to shine in special ways. You might see me in a grown-up’s wedding ring, which is a little circle of love that lasts forever. When someone wins a big race, they might get a shiny medal made from me to show how hard they worked and how proud they are. I am even a secret helper inside our phones and computers, helping them think fast. I am a reminder of things that are beautiful, strong, and precious, and I love sharing my sparkle with the world.