Black gold
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Minerals
Black gold, in most of the world, refers to crude oil or petroleum. The name is derived from the black color of crude oil combined with its status as a highly valuable resource, serving in the industrial age, in many ways, the same role that gold did in the pre-industrial era.
In the Appalachian Mountains of the United States, a major coal-producing region, the term refers to coal. In Taiwan, it means iron, petroleum, and coal.
The term was popularized by the television show The Beverly Hillbillies where it was mentioned in the theme song, along with another synonym for crude oil, "Texas Tea".
Corruption
Black gold (Chinese: 黑金; pinyin: hēi jīn) is a term used in Taiwan to refer to political corruption. The "black" here refers to the obtaining of money (the "gold") through a dark, secretive, and therefore corrupt method.
Former Minister Ma Ying-jeou was noted for his zealous fight against black gold.
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Novel
Black Gold is the title of a book about South Africa by English journalist Anthony Sampson which, as the title indicates, weaves together the themes of apartheid and gold-mining.
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