[quote=@Dnafein]
Some people don't know this, however gold makes a better conductor then copper. So anyone working on tech would most likely be willing to trade a rare tool or gun for gold.
[/quote]

Oh the techs have buckets of the stuff, the older Risen came with all their jewelry and once they stressed the need for silver and gold collection it began in earnest. Some techs use Diamonds to etch things