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Diggers in the gold rush used the following equipment and methods to find gold:

  • Panning involved the use of a solid pan. An amount of potentially gold-bearing dirt was placed in the pan with some water, and gently swished and shaken around, a process which would bring the smaller particles of gold to the surface.
  • Cradling involved a wooden box loosely resembling a cradle. The cradle was used for sifting through larger amounts of sediment to find gold, and was popular from the early times of the goldrushes. It required at least two men to work. The cradle had a grate and a sieve. The dirt and sediment to be sifted through was emptied onto the grate in the cradle. The cradle was rocked quickly back and forth (in the action of a cradle) while water was poured over the sediment to help work it through. The grate stopped coarser stones from going through, while the fine material was sifted out the other end. The gold would be left behind for easy collection.
  • Fossicking was another method which involved picking at rock and stone with sharp tools until gold was located inside, or to pick through mullock heaps left behind by other miners.
  • Sieves were also popular. They were like a pan but with a mesh base through which the water would drain, to help separate gold from similar sized particles.
  • Windlass was one of the slower methods of mining for gold. Two people were required to operate it, one at the surface and one in the mine shaft. The person in the shaft filled a bucket with potential gold-bearing soil and rocks, and the person on the surface operated the windlass to wind up the bucket. The contents of the bucket were then sorted through, perhaps in a cradle or a pan.
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What are people who find gold called?

They were called the gold minersBack then they use to go to mines and mine for gold.That is why they were named gold minersgold mines-where they mine for goldgold miners-people who mine for gold


How did 19th century gold prospectors mine?

Many gold prospectors mined by placing a pie pan shaped dish in a stream and gathering some of the sand and a little water. Then they would slowly swirl the dish letting the water fall out. If they found gold, they staked a claim and built a mine by cutting into nearby rocks, digging caves to find more gold.


Do Portugal mine for gold?

No


How did they mine at the California gold rush?

There were several methods to mine for gold. The easiest way was to look for gold in the rivers. This was done through panning for gold, using a sluce box ( this is a box where dirt is shoveled into and then washed out with water. The gold is heavier than dirt so it would fall away from the dirt) and using a rocker. This is the same idea as the sluce box but it rocks. The next method was to mine for the ore. This required digging a mine and looking for a vein. Finally, hydronic mining. This is literally washing away whole mountainsides with a powerful water hoses. This does a lot of damage to the enviroment and the damage can still be seen today. Gold mining is still done by people because there is still gold.


Why do you mine gold?

The main reason people mine gold is for its value. Gold is considered a precious metal and very valuable which is the reason it is sought throughout the world.

Related Questions

How did companies mine for gold in contrast to the method used by individual prospectors?

Individual prospectors typically dig small mines or pan for gold, or use small scale sluice boxes. Companies might do that as well, but they also engage in larger operations like strip mining.


What are people who find gold called?

They were called the gold minersBack then they use to go to mines and mine for gold.That is why they were named gold minersgold mines-where they mine for goldgold miners-people who mine for gold


How did 19th century gold prospectors mine?

Many gold prospectors mined by placing a pie pan shaped dish in a stream and gathering some of the sand and a little water. Then they would slowly swirl the dish letting the water fall out. If they found gold, they staked a claim and built a mine by cutting into nearby rocks, digging caves to find more gold.


What is the noun The prospectors have been trying to find the Lost Dutchman's mine?

Noun: prospectors


Who were the 49s?

prospectors who went to California during the gold rush


What element was used during the California gold rush extract gold from mine deposits?

Mercury was used to dissolve gold from the ore. The mercury/gold mixture was then heated to drive off the mercury leaving the gold. The mercury vapours were detrimental to the environment and the jhealth of the prospectors


What was the names of the 4 prospectors who founded the Calico Ghost Mine?

It is blank


What is the best ore to train on if you have 50 mining?

For experience, power mine iron For gold, mine mithril ore using the world hopping method


How many gold mines are in Timmins?

It is unknown how many gold mines were actually started in Timmins, Ontario. When the Porcupine Gold Rush started prospectors started mines all over the land. It was a real free for all when gold was discovered. Mine shafts can be found all over the area. The major gold mines were/are: The McIntyre Gold Mine est 1908 and still in operation. It is Canada's 3rd largest gold producer The Hollinger Gold Mine opened in 1910 and closed in 1968 The Paymaster Gold Mine opened 1915 closed 1966 The Dome Gold Mine opened in 1909 and is still in operation Pamour Mine/Porcupine Joint Venture 1909 - closed a number of times and reopened in 2005 The Kidd Creek Mine /Metallurgical Site - gold discovered here in 1963 but production didn't start until 1966. Still in production


Does Italy mine for gold of diamonds?

Italy does not mine for gold of diamonds. Italy does, however, mine for gold.


A mine that had no gold?

Well... The Lumbridge mine has no gold... The mine west of the Lumbridge mine has no gold... The mine near the Champion's guild has no gold... the mine east of the dark wizards has no gold... and I don't think the dwarven mine has any gold. I hope those are the answers your looking for =)


How do you say gold mine in french?

Gold mine in French is "mine d'or."