Neutron stars are the literal limit to how much matter can be collapsed before it turns into a black hole and yet still remain a star. A neutron star 12-16 mil

Neutron stars are the literal limit to how much matter can be collapsed before it turns into a black hole and yet still remain a star. A neutron star 12-16 miles in diameter contains the mass over HALF-MILLION earths, it is very hard to fathom but yet they exist! So popping out an earth-sized chunk of gold after collision with say another neutron star (kilonova) and ejecting matter to "normal" density is plausible.