While modern-day technology makes it easy to mine gold, patience and luck have been instrumental in determining the fate of the gold miners of yesterday.

The most monumental early discovery of gold and its extraction resulted from Christopher Columbus and his voyage to the Americas. From 1492 to 1600, Central and South America, Mexico and the islands of the Caribbean Sea contributed amazing quantities of gold to world commerce. In fact, Columbia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama and Hispanola contributed 61% of the world’s newfound gold in the 17th century, and by the 18th century it was up to 80%. This was soon outdone by the discovery of gold in 1848 in California, causing mining interests to put North America in its sights, which soon became the world’s major supplier of gold.

Gold, along with copper and silver was one of the first metals used by humans, no doubt due to its attractiveness, malleability and virtual indestructibility. As development continued over the centuries, the metal took on a sacred quality with some tribes, being worn as amulets in some cases and using it to fashion religious objects.

Gold is just as valuable and admired today as it was in earlier years, and will most likely stay that way for many years to come…

PHOTO CAPTION: An original advertisement for travel to California during the heyday of the goldrush.

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