Alchem...what?
What part of the Earth do we live on?
The hard outer Layer, called the crust
What was one way that mining impacted forests?
Miles of trees were cut down, wild animals fled or died when their homes were cut down
What were two ways of getting to the gold fields?
Land and Sea
Why is gold valuable?
Scarce but highly desired
Why did the US fight a war with Mexico from 1846 to 1848?
Over ownership of CA and the area that is now Arizona and New Mexico
What are "veins" of rock called?
Lodes, i.e., the Motherlode
How did mining affect mountainsides? Name 2 ways
The blasted hillsides with dynamite, crushed rock to extract gold or, used chemicals to dissolve it out of rock, hydraulic mining ground down mountainsides or caused avalanches, dirty piles of debris and scars on mountainsides
What time of year did gold seekers leave and why was it so important to leave at the right time when taking the overland route?
Spring. Leaving too early meant not enough grass for the animals, leaving too late meant the possibility of getting caught in snow while crossing the mountains.
During the Middle Ages, what group of people tried to make gold?
Alchemists
How many people were in San Francisco in 1948?
1,000 people
How does gold go from being trapped inside hard rock to the bottom of a stream bed?
Earthquakes and erosion expose and break up rocks over million of years. Pieces tumble downhill, broken up more by wind and rain. Pieces of flakes washed downhill into streams, sink into streambeds.
What did miners use mercury for?
To extract gold from ore deposits
What happened in 1855 to improve travel along the Panama route?
47 miles of railroad through Panama was established.
What is jewelry that is pure gold said to be?
24 Karat
Who was the president at the time gold was discovered in CA?
James Polk
What is hard-rock mining?
Mining gold from veins of gold in the hard rock of the mountainside
What is the environmental impact of mercury?
It lasts for a long time in the environment, transforms into something highly toxic when released into waterways, bioaccumulates in tissues of plants, fish, and humans, causing long term effects on brains and nervous systems of babies and children
How long did the Cape Horn Route take?
6-8 months
Name two myths that refer to gold
King Midas, The Golden Fleece
What was the name of the man who rode up and down the streets of San Francisco shouting about gold?
Sam Brannan
What are 2 other names for hard-rock mining?
Quartz mining or lode mining
What is the Minamata Convention on Mercury?
United Nations global agreement on environment and health, calling on countries to reduce the use and release of mercury and to clean up contaminated sites
How long did the overland route typically take?
4-5 months
What was the Spanish explorer Coronado looking for in 1540?
Golden Cities
What was the name of the mill where James Marshall discovered Gold?
Sutter's Mill