Program: GS-2019B-DD-104

The cosmic origin of gold is a decade-long mistery. Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger recently found evidence for r-process elements in the remnant of the collision, confirming that heavy metals can be produced in these systems. However, NS mergers are characterized by rather long lifetimes, and might have not contributed to the chemical enrichment of the early stars and galaxies. This would leave the main source of heavy elements still unknown. Here we request Gemini observations of the nearby GRB190829A, in conjunction with approved HST visits, to test an alternative scenario in which collapsars are the dominant source of cosmic gold.