Marathon Fusion claims breakthrough in lab-made gold production
Summary
De Beers' parent company, Anglo American, has invested in the U.S. startup Marathon Fusion, which claims to have turned mercury into stable gold, a potential game-changer for the gold market. This investment follows a significant decline in natural diamond prices, which have plummeted 51% since their 2021 peak, forcing traditional diamond producers to explore alternative technologies. Although Marathon claims to produce gold at a much faster rate than existing methods, the achievement remains unverified, and the technology faces significant challenges, particularly regarding its commercial scalability and the need for lengthy storage due to radioactive impurities. If successfully proven and implemented, this innovation could significantly reshape the gold supply landscape.