Created by a KSD Student

How Was Gold Found? Gold was found in the form of flakes, nuggets, or dust. The gold came from large deposits that were buried deep underground rock. Gold was found in the form of flakes, nuggets, or dust. The gold came from large deposits that were buried deep underground rock.

Gold Streams Over thousands of years, waters from rivers and streams eroded, or washed away, hard rock. Over thousands of years, waters from rivers and streams eroded, or washed away, hard rock. Gradually, particles of gold in the rock were loosened and carried away with the moving water. Gradually, particles of gold in the rock were loosened and carried away with the moving water. Much of the placer gold was found in the bend of rivers and streams, were the current of the water slowed, and the gold settled at the bottom. Much of the placer gold was found in the bend of rivers and streams, were the current of the water slowed, and the gold settled at the bottom.

How Did Miners Get the Gold? Gold is eight times heavier than sand and stone. Prospectors washed the gold in a lake or river to separate it from the dirt. Gold is eight times heavier than sand and stone. Prospectors washed the gold in a lake or river to separate it from the dirt. By swirling around the pan, the dirt mixed with the water. When the water was tipped out of the pan, the dirt fell out as well. The gold-laden dirt at the bottom of the pan was washed over and over again until nothing remained but the gold. By swirling around the pan, the dirt mixed with the water. When the water was tipped out of the pan, the dirt fell out as well. The gold-laden dirt at the bottom of the pan was washed over and over again until nothing remained but the gold.

Teamwork Prospectors often worked together on one claim of the gold. The job was much easier with five or six pairs of hands. Prospectors often worked together on one claim of the gold. The job was much easier with five or six pairs of hands. Experienced miners would sometimes help the new miners, who were called greenhorns. They would show greenhorns the best methods for mining gold. Experienced miners would sometimes help the new miners, who were called greenhorns. They would show greenhorns the best methods for mining gold.

Buried Gold In order to find buried gold miners would dig holes as deep as 100 feet! A miner at the bottom of the hole puts dirt and gravel into a bucket attached to a rope. In order to find buried gold miners would dig holes as deep as 100 feet! A miner at the bottom of the hole puts dirt and gravel into a bucket attached to a rope. The miners above ground pulls up the bucket. Then they washed the dirt hoping to find the gleam of gold. The miners above ground pulls up the bucket. Then they washed the dirt hoping to find the gleam of gold.