The oldest known mine on archaeological record is the "Lion Cave" in Swaziland. At this site, which by radiocarbon dating the mine dates between 4,100 BC, paleolithic humans mined mineral hematite, which contained iron and was ground to produce the red pigment ochre. [1] [2] Mines of a similar age in Hungary and are believed to be sites where Neanderthals may have mined flint for weapons and tools.
Ancient Egyptians mined malachite at Maadi. [3] At first, Egyptians used the bright green malachite stones for ornamentations and pottery. Later, between 2,613 and 2,494 BC, large building projects required expeditions abroad to the area of Wadi Maghara in order "to secure minerals and other resources not available in Egypt itself." [4] Quarries for turqoise and copper were also found at "Wadi Hamamat, Tura, Aswan, and various other Nubian sites" [5] on the Sinai Peninsula and at Timna.
In North America there are ancient, prehistoric copper mines along Lake Superior that formed from volcanic activity 1280 million years ago. [6] [7] "Indians availed themselves of this copper starting at least 5000 years ago," [8] and copper tools, arrowheads, and other artifacts that were part of an extensive native trade network have been discovered. In addition, obsidian, flint, and other minerals were mined, worked, and traded.[9] While the early French explorers that encountered the sites made no use of the metals due to the difficulties in transporting it, [10] the copper was eventually traded throughout the continent along major river routes. In Manitoba, Canada, there also are ancient quartz mines near Waddy Lake and surrounding regions. [11]
In the early colonial history of the Americas, "native gold and silver was quickly expropriated and sent back to Spain in fleets of gold- and silver-laden galleons." [12] Turquoise dated at 700 A.D. was mined in pre-Columbian America. In the Cerillos Mining District in New Mexico, estimates are that "about 15,000 tons of rock had been removed from Mt Chalchihuitl using stone tools before 1700." [13] [14] Duly noted, black gun powder in mining was first used in a mineshaft in Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia in 1627. [15] In 1762, the world's first mining academy was established in the same town.
Mining in the United States became prevalent in the 19th century. As with the California Gold Rush in the mid 1800s, mining for minerals and precious metals alongside ranching and exploration for oil and gas fields was very important in the Westward Expansion to the Pacific coast. With the exploration of the West, mining camps were established and "expressed a distinctive spirit, an enduring legacy to the new nation;" Gold Rushers would experience the same problems as the Land Rushers of the transient West that preceded them. [16] Aided by railroads, many traveled West for work opportunities in mining. Western cities such as Denver and Sacramento originated as mining towns.(wikipedia)
Ancient Egyptians mined malachite at Maadi. [3] At first, Egyptians used the bright green malachite stones for ornamentations and pottery. Later, between 2,613 and 2,494 BC, large building projects required expeditions abroad to the area of Wadi Maghara in order "to secure minerals and other resources not available in Egypt itself." [4] Quarries for turqoise and copper were also found at "Wadi Hamamat, Tura, Aswan, and various other Nubian sites" [5] on the Sinai Peninsula and at Timna.
In North America there are ancient, prehistoric copper mines along Lake Superior that formed from volcanic activity 1280 million years ago. [6] [7] "Indians availed themselves of this copper starting at least 5000 years ago," [8] and copper tools, arrowheads, and other artifacts that were part of an extensive native trade network have been discovered. In addition, obsidian, flint, and other minerals were mined, worked, and traded.[9] While the early French explorers that encountered the sites made no use of the metals due to the difficulties in transporting it, [10] the copper was eventually traded throughout the continent along major river routes. In Manitoba, Canada, there also are ancient quartz mines near Waddy Lake and surrounding regions. [11]
In the early colonial history of the Americas, "native gold and silver was quickly expropriated and sent back to Spain in fleets of gold- and silver-laden galleons." [12] Turquoise dated at 700 A.D. was mined in pre-Columbian America. In the Cerillos Mining District in New Mexico, estimates are that "about 15,000 tons of rock had been removed from Mt Chalchihuitl using stone tools before 1700." [13] [14] Duly noted, black gun powder in mining was first used in a mineshaft in Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia in 1627. [15] In 1762, the world's first mining academy was established in the same town.
Mining in the United States became prevalent in the 19th century. As with the California Gold Rush in the mid 1800s, mining for minerals and precious metals alongside ranching and exploration for oil and gas fields was very important in the Westward Expansion to the Pacific coast. With the exploration of the West, mining camps were established and "expressed a distinctive spirit, an enduring legacy to the new nation;" Gold Rushers would experience the same problems as the Land Rushers of the transient West that preceded them. [16] Aided by railroads, many traveled West for work opportunities in mining. Western cities such as Denver and Sacramento originated as mining towns.(wikipedia)
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