Gold Mining

Gold mining must have been the most lucrative business of all times. Gold mining is the term used for the integrated processes and techniques employed in finding and extracting gold from streams and earth. It may be present in the form of particles in loose sediment in places called placer mines; or in the form of ores in hard rocks, buried deep down in the earth.

Different techniques are used in extracting gold from placer mines and hard rocks. In the former case, gold is recovered with gravity separation method; and in the latter, chemical reactions separate the gold from other metals and substances.

The most critical and the very first step in gold mining is locating the presence of gold in a particular area. It can be done manually by a process called gold panning, or with the help of a metal detector. Gold panning is not commercially suitable for sorting out gold. Confirming the presence of gold beneath a particular area with the help of a metal detector is not only easier but can also be carried out on a larger scale.

In many areas, gold deposits are found in the stream beds. Such places are called placer deposits. Sluicing is gold miners' common method to extract gold efficiently. The sluice box is a wooden box designed in such a way that the gold material is placed on its top. It is immersed in the stream to channel water flow. Gold and other heavier particles settle in the bottom of the box and the remaining silt is washed away by the current. Sluicing can be used on small as well as on larger scales.

Dredging is also a popular method of gold mining, though it is replaced by modern methods these days. Gold mining is done through suction dredges. A dredge is a small machine floating on water. It is fitted with a sluice box and suction hose. Small suction hoses are good for extracting smaller particles of gold. Large scale dredging employs earth movers like excavators that dig out the gravel containing gold. When this is processed through the sluice box, gold particles get trapped in. This is an economical and eco friendly digging method because it does not strip vegetation and the water is fully recycled in this process. This method is usually adopted in some areas of New Zealand and Canada.

Hard rock gold mining is extensively used in other areas where gold is found encased in hard rocks. South Africa has the largest and deepest gold mine rocks in the world. There are two kinds of hard rock mining: open pit mining and underground mining.

Chemical reactions maybe employed for the extraction of gold from its ores sodium cyanide, and active carbon is usually used to separate gold from other substances.

Gold is a symbol of beauty, wealth and power for men, women and nations alike. It is an index which explains all the economic factors of a country. Gold mining has retained its charm and intrigue through ages and continues to do so.