As the shinmei (name of god) indicates, it is a god of 'gold mines' (kanayama, mine), and it was thought to have been born from vomit probably due to its association from the appearance of vomit.
神名の通り「金山」（かなやま、鉱山）を司る神で、嘔吐物から産まれたとしたのは、嘔吐物の外観からの連想によるものと考えられる。