Although gold is most often found in its pure and natural state, the metal can be extracted from other metals using a refining process. When other metals are present with gold, they are called "ore". Refining can also be used to remove impurities from gold to give it a higher carat quality.

There are generally four types of refining processes, including Floatation, Cyanidation and "Carbon-in-pulp" and Amalgamation. The first process - Floatation - involves using a carefully measured mixture of water and chemicals to separate the gold from the remnants of other metals. If the mixture is right, air bubbles can be created that cause the gold to stick to the top of the bubbles, allowing the gold to be taken easily from the top. Cyanidation removes ore from gold with chemicals also, but by forcing the separation through a chemical reaction with zinc. The third process, "Carbon-in-pulp" involves using the same techniques as cyanidation, however, instead of Zinc, raw Carbon is added. The fourth refining process known as Amalgamation, involves creating a chemical reaction with Mercury to collect the gold. The Mercury is then heated until it becomes a gas, leaving behind only beautiful, pure gold.

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