An unclaimed island of gold

[amorphous_constellation]

Let's say that God, or aliens, create an island, a hundred miles square. Nothing lives there. It is full of gold.

It is covered in gold rocks, and you can mine gold. It can eventually be exhausted, but not after some years

They let all the nations know it exists. How will claims on it be made, how will this play out politically?

 

[ChristineM]

If birds poo on it then America can claim it.

The Guano Islands Act (11 Stat. ... 8 §§ 1411-1419) is a United States federal law passed by the U.S. Congress that enables citizens of the United States to take possession, in the name of the United States, of unclaimed islands containing guano deposits.​

Guano Islands Act - Wikipedia.

 

[Rival]

Stand out of the fray.

Let gold become so common it's worthless.

Laugh.

 

[Altfish]

Let's say that God, or aliens, create an island, a hundred miles square. Nothing lives there. It is full of gold.

It is covered in gold rocks, and you can mine gold. It can eventually be exhausted, but not after some years

They let all the nations know it exists. How will claims on it be made, how will this play out politically?

Doesn't the value of gold mainly depend on its scarcity. If we suddenly acquire vast amounts of additional gold, it won't be worth mining.

 

[amorphous_constellation]

Thank you for comments. I think we've secured the foundation for a good science fiction movie.

 

[Father Heathen]

Even if the gold becomes worthless due to an over abundance, it still might be nice resort real estate.

 

[ChristineM]

About 10 years agos astronomers announced the discovery of planet 55 Cancri e, an calculated that it's size and mass suggest it to be made out of diamond.

Only about 40 light years away so it could be worth mining

 

[Stevicus]

Let's say that God, or aliens, create an island, a hundred miles square. Nothing lives there. It is full of gold.

It is covered in gold rocks, and you can mine gold. It can eventually be exhausted, but not after some years

They let all the nations know it exists. How will claims on it be made, how will this play out politically?

I guess it would depend on where it actually is.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Right. If it is in South China Sea, then China has a natural right to it, if in Adriatic, then Greece.

 

[amorphous_constellation]

Right. If it is in South China Sea, then China has a natural right to it, if in Adriatic, then Greece.

It would be in international waters

 

[amorphous_constellation]

If birds poo on it then America can claim it.

The Guano Islands Act (11 Stat. ... 8 §§ 1411-1419) is a United States federal law passed by the U.S. Congress that enables citizens of the United States to take possession, in the name of the United States, of unclaimed islands containing guano deposits.​

Guano Islands Act - Wikipedia.

importing of all that, seems like it might be a disease vector

 

[amorphous_constellation]

Doesn't the value of gold mainly depend on its scarcity. If we suddenly acquire vast amounts of additional gold, it won't be worth mining.

If you put an island of gold out there, somehow I don't think the nations would leap to that conclusion right away

Perhaps there would be a treaty agreement so as not touch it, so as not to inflate the various reserves, wherever they are

It's also used in electronics I thought, so there might be some interest in that, which might override the fiscal prospectors

 

[ChristineM]

importing of all that, seems like it might be a disease vector

Maybe thats how some of the local plagues kicked off.

 

[amorphous_constellation]

Maybe thats how some of the local plagues kicked off.

maybe, maybe not.. I don't know, I thought maybe guano had something to do with filo-viruses like ebola, but you'd have to ask someone more educated to know if that is really the case

 

[ChristineM]

maybe, maybe not.. I don't know, I thought maybe guano had something to do with filo-viruses like ebola, but you'd have to ask someone more educated to know if that is really the case

Just done a quick Google. Histoplasmosis seems to be the main one

 

[Revoltingest]

About 10 years agos astronomers announced the discovery of planet 55 Cancri e, an calculated that it's size and mass suggest it to be made out of diamond.

Only about 40 light years away so it could be worth mining

Cheaper to manufacture diamonds here on Earth.

 

[ChristineM]

Cheaper to manufacture diamonds here on Earth.

Yes but but not in that quantity.

 

[Revoltingest]

Yes but but not in that quantity.

Meh...quantity enuf.
It would cost more than the entire planet's GDP
to harvest a diamond planet. With a high risk
of complete failure too.
Are we lacking enuf diamonds in our economies?

Gold would make a great cheap roofing material.
Far better than the lead that's so popular in
Froggieland. Did you know they plan to put tons
of the neurotoxin back up on your burned out
cathedral? Yeah....bad move.

 

[ChristineM]

Meh...quantity enuf.
It would cost more than the entire planet's GDP
to harvest a diamond planet. With a high risk
of complete failure too.
Are we lacking enuf diamonds in our economies?

Gold would make a great cheap roofing material.
Far better than the lead that's so popular in
Froggieland. Did you know they plan to put tons
of the neurotoxin back up on your burned out
cathedral? Yeah....bad move.

Lead is used as flashing on roofing to keep rain from the joints between roof and wall, flexible, durable, long lasting. And it is much cheaper than gold.

What do you americans use for flashing?

However if gold were affordable in such quantities i am pretty sure it would look good too.

 

[Revoltingest]

Lead is used as flashing on roofing to keep rain from the joints between roof and wall, flexible, durable, long lasting. And it is much cheaper than gold.

What do you americans use for flashing?

However if gold were affordable in such quantities i am pretty sure it would look good too.

Lead is used for more than just flashing in Froggieland.
Notre Dame had 460 tons of the stuff melted & airborne.
For historical accuracy, they're using the same thing.

We most commonly use aluminum for flashing.
I've also seen copper, galvanized steel, & lead.