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The World Gold Council stated that more than 90% of the gold that can be found in the world today has been produced in the mid – and late 80s. The four steps in the process of gold mining are: prospecting, mining, extracting and refining.

In the past, gold mining started with someone spotting a bright light in a river or in between some rocks. In our days, with the help of technology, the process is more systematic. Geology has taught us how gold is formed. There are small particles of gold that can be found everywhere in the soil or rocks. The precious metal can be extracted only from areas where there is a big concentration of these particles.

The process of searching for gold is called prospecting. Gold can be found in its pure form, that is with no alloys, but for the most of times this precious metal is combined with other alloys like silver. After successfully pin-pointing the deposit, scientists drill to obtain samples from below the surface. These samples are the analyzed for gold content. If there is enough yellow metal in the sample, then the mining company sets up the mining operation.

The way that the yellow metal is mined depends on the deposits it forms. The mining company can choose to use an open-pit or an underground mine after this aspect is established. These two methods are used for the load deposit. This type of deposit actually refers to the accumulation of precious metal near the surface of the earth or far beneath the surface. Another type of deposit is the placer deposit. This other type of deposit represents the accumulations of gold in sediments in a stream bed or a beach. Big scoops of sand, gravel or rock are scooped and mixed with big amounts of water. Because the precious metal has more density it sinks at the bottom and gets separated from the sediments.

This precious metal has always been an attraction for humans even from the ancient times. Now, the precious metal is even more so because of the profits that it can bring us.

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The history of gold begins much earlier than we imagined. Many believe that people that used to live in the Stone Age or the Bronze Age used only tools made out of stone or cooper. This however is not exactly accurate. An important discovery made in Bulgaria revealed the fact that people made decorative objects made out of this precious metal in 4000 B.C.

The civilizations in North Africa, Asia and Europe are said to have discovered gold sometime in between 6000 B.C and 2500 B.C. The Egyptians where undoubtedly the ones that had a staggering appetite for gold. The presence of gold was first mentioned in 2600 B.C in some hieroglyphics. By 1500 B.C, the precious metal has already become an international means of exchange. The place where the Egyptians got their gold was the North African region of Nubia. Pharaohs used to send expeditions to get gold in order to fulfill their need for the glittering metal. The goldsmiths used to make vessels, furniture, funerary equipment and exquisite jewelry.

In 550 B.C the Greeks started mining in the Mediterranean and Middle East for gold. The Romans continued their work but they developed sophisticated techniques such as hydraulic mining or hushing for extracting the gold. These techniques involved large quantities of water that was used to dislodge the rock and to remove the debris. The Romans have also minted coins on a scale never seen before. The coins minted between A.D 200 and 400 were stamped with the emperor’s head.

At the same time, in another place on Earth, the South American civilizations were developing the metalworking procedures. During the course of many years, people that used to live in today’s Peru managed to create very large quantities of gold artifacts.

These treasures are the living testimony of the history of gold. They are proof of how appreciated this yellow metal was. In our days, the yellow metal is a safe investment for the future and it is even more appreciated.

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Marco Polo, the Venetian explorer that traveled all the way to China in 1271, managed to inspire the whole Europe with his book. “The travels of Marco Polo” presents tales about gold treasures that could be found in the remote parts of the world.

Upon his departure from Spain, Columbus planned to reach the trade-rich Orient. Spain intended to spread Christianity with the help of Columbus but another reason was to obtain as much gold and silver as they could. Columbus was advised by King Ferdinand, the financier of his expedition, to come back home with as much gold as he captured. In the 16th century, Spain had concentrated its powers in conquering Central and South America. In their quest, they also hoped to find El Dorado, the city where gold could be found everywhere.

The city was declared to be found several times. Each time explorers found gold, they said that they discovered the mythical city and started a gold rush. In the 1700, in Brazil’s Minas region one of the most important gold rushes took place. The mining was done by slaves brought from Africa. They used primitive methods for mining such as panning. By the year 1720, Brazil became the largest gold producer in the world. Gold mining was the main activity in the area.

In the US the first gold rush took place in North California. This state supplied the necessary domestic precious metal coined for currency by the U.S Mint in Philadelphia until 1830. In 1848, John Marshal, a New Jersey contractor and builder, discovered gold flakes while he was overseeing the construction of a sawmill in Sacramento, California. By the end of the year there were about 5.000 people prospecting for the glittering metal in the area. At the end of 1849 the number reached 40.000.

People have always had a passion for this glittering metal.It was always considered to be a valuable asset and a good investment.

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It is sometimes referred to as the Yukon gold rush. The Klondike gold rush stands for numerous immigrations and gold prospecting. It took place in Canada near Dawson City after gold was discovered in the late 19th century. After discovering the precious metal approximately 390 tons of gold were mined from that area.

The gold was discovered in 1896 in Bonanza Creek, Yukon by a party of four men and one woman. Most of the gold mining camps around the area headed to the creek in search of the precious metal soon after the news had gone out. During those times of financial recession, people from the United States were more motivated to move toward the gold fields.

Successful prospectors and ordinary people that were coming from New York, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Australia ended up in the same place. Most of those that came there were educated people such as lawyers, teachers and even a mayor or two who have given up their careers in order to strike gold.

The writer Jack London was among those that took part of the gold rush. His books White Flag, The Call of the Wild and a series of short stories were influenced by the times spent there. It can be easily seen that he was inspired by the adventures he ran into while taking part of the gold rush. He wasn’t the only writer that was involved in the Klondike rush. The folk-lyricist Robert W. Service had also written stories centered around the gold rush.

In our days there have been no more gold rushes. Prospecting has remained a hobby for the most people that still go to the rivers in hope of striking gold. The yellow metal is a safe investment and so, nobody who wants to purchase this precious metal should do it.

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