Locations of Gold mines and sources and descriptions of samples from each.
This Geology and Geography section will help you find the locations of mines and sources of Quartz and other minerals, gemstones, semi-precious stones, metals and other natural resources. From the Brazilian Mining phenomenon to other locations of World mining locations for Global Resources for mineral deposits, mineral mines and Gold mines.
The story of the geography of Gold, is more complex than the simple location of its sources. More than any other mineral or gemstone, gold mining and prospecting affected the history, development and legends and myths of the area surrounding the sources. Most of the cities near gold sources grew quickly in famous frenzies of human influx known as Gold Rushes. Gold Rushes occurred throughout the world, but the most famous were in the Western US, Alaska and Canada, and South Africa. They made few families rich, but even the slight chance of a big find was enough to draw huge numbers of people into an area, so great is the lure of gold in the human psyche. If the Gold ran out, the towns earned the name Ghost Towns, when their inhabitants fled. Regardless of their long-term successes, Gold Rush times left long-term marks on the history of the areas around the sources.
Victoria,
Australia
The Australian Gold Rush occurred between 1851 and 1853. More than
230,000 people flooded the area over the next few years as gold production
skyrocketed. Within ten years the population of Victoria was nearly half
of the total population of the nation of Australia.
Johannesburg,
South Africa
The European South Africans founded Johannesburg in 1886 as a
gold-mining settlement. By 1900, the population had increased dramatically
to 100,000. Still rich with gold deposits, Johannesburg is the principal
city in the Witwatersrand area of South Africa, the producer of 1/3 of the
modern world’s gold.
The
Mexican Mining Corridor
Renowned gold mining area from the Arizona border to Mexico City
includes mines for many other products as well.
Tegucigalpa,
Honduras
Founded 1579, Tegucigalpa was a Spanish gold and silver mining community
and is the modern capital of the republic.
American
Gold Rushes
The American Gold Rushes were especially integral in the history of the
nation, perhaps because of the emphasis placed upon wealth in the culture.
The California Gold Rush of 1848 at Sutter’s Mill resulted in the
arrival of more than 40,000 prospectors within 2 years. By 1860,
California's population was nearing 400,000. Deadwood, SD, USA, was
settled in 1876 as gold and silver Boom Town. Fairbanks, AK, USA, the 1902
discovery of gold in the area lead to growth that exploded with the
construction of the Alaskan Railroad. Discovery of Gold in Colorado in
1858 soon ran out and left many ghost towns such as Leadville, CO, USA,
site of two separate gold rushes in 1860 and again in 1890s. In Helena,
MT, USA, Gold was discovered at Last Chance Gulch in 1864. Last Chance
Gulch eventually became Helena’s main street as the town grew up around
it. Virginia City, NV, near the Comstock Lode, had the largest deposit of
Silver in the US, but was also involved in the gold trade. Currently Utah,
Colorado, Nevada continue to mine gold in the most significant quantities.
Nevada is the leading modern producer in the US.
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