Can We Afford a Street Made of Gold? The Cost of Defying Gravity

Imagine a street paved with gold - an incredibly luxurious and unique feature for any city. But would such a venture be feasible, both in terms of resources and cost?

Resource Availability

Gold is a precious metal that is found in various quantities around the world. At present, all the gold mined throughout human history would fit into a cube measuring 66 feet on each edge. This means that if you wanted to construct a street made entirely of gold, you would need to find a location that is rich in gold deposits.

For this hypothetical scenario, let's assume we are located in a region with abundant gold. However, the real-world challenges of acquiring such a large quantity of gold are immense. Gold mining is not only resource-intensive but also economically and environmentally challenging.

Design and Specifications

To accurately estimate the cost, specific details are necessary. For instance, the length and width of the street, whether it will be laid out with bricks or in one solid piece, and the requirement for proper drainage with kerbs and guttering. These factors can significantly affect the financial and logistical aspects of the project.

Let's assume a street of 100 meters in length and 10 meters in width, requiring bricks to pave it. We'll also assume that the street must have proper drainage systems to ensure an even and safe surface.

Material and Labor Costs

First, we must consider the cost of gold. At current market prices, gold is valued around $1,800 per ounce. For a street of 100 meters by 10 meters, we need to calculate the volume of gold required.

The volume of the street would be 1000 square meters. Assuming each gold brick is 10 cm x 10 cm x 1 cm, we would require approximately 1,000,000 of these small bricks. At the current price of gold, this would cost:

1,000,000 * 0.001 * 1800 $1,800,000,000

Note: This is a rough estimate and does not take into account the current market volatility of gold prices.

The next step is to consider the cost of labor and other materials. Gold would be brought to the site, and skilled labor would be required to lay the bricks. Let's assume the labor cost for this project is $50 per hour, and it takes 1000 hours to complete the street.

Total labor cost 1000 hours * $50/hour $50,000

Other materials such as cement, bricks, and drainage systems would also need to be factored in, but for simplicity, we'll focus on gold and labor costs.

Conclusion

The total cost of constructing a street made of gold can be more than staggering. Even with the assumptions given, the cost exceeds $1.8 billion, which is astronomical. This does not take into account environmental and social considerations that such a project might entail.

While it might be a dream or a luxury to have a street made of gold, it is not a feasible project for most cities or individuals. The cost is simply too high, and the resources too scarce to make it a realistic option.

Remember, the value of gold is not just monetary; it is also symbolic and historical. Before embarking on such a project, careful consideration and feasibility studies must be conducted to ensure that the resources and costs are justifiable.