So far in this series, pretty much every material we’ve covered has had to undergo a significant industrial process to transform it from its natural state to a more useful product. Whether it’s the ...

Gold is only dissolved in natural fluids at around one part per million (representational). Humanity's fascination with gold stretches back thousands of years. Gold mining is described in ancient ...

A traditional modern kitchen with a quartz countertop island and shaker cabinets. - Cavan Images/Getty Images Calacatta Gold Quartz is the durable, low maintenance alternative to marble that's taking ...

Findings suggest gold nuggets can form in quartz veins as a result of electricity produced by the pressure of earthquakes. The gold is carried in super-hot liquids from the Earth's core to its crust, ...

Design is cyclical, but kitchens work hardest when they're calm, welcoming, and a little bit personal. If you lean into warm ...

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. In April, a spectacular specimen featuring a 15cm-long plume of solid crystallised gold rising from a rocky ...