California Gold Mining

When did James Wilson Marshall discover gold in California?

• 1848

• 1850

• 1853

• 1859

What is the mining method called where gold is found near water sources?

• Alluvial mining

• Hydraulic mining

• Hard rock mining

• Dredging

Which mining technique utilized heavy machinery to dump gravel into a sluice with water flowing through it?

• Alluvial mining

• Hydraulic mining

• Hard rock mining

• Dredging

What was the estimated amount of gold mined through dredging?

• 5 million ounces

• 12 million ounces

• 20 million ounces

• 118 million ounces

What was the main material that was excavated in hard rock mining?

• Gold

• Quartz

• Mercury

• Copper

What was the alternative method to separate gold from crushed rock in hard rock mining?

• Washing with water

• Using mercury

• Using copper

• Using gravity

How much gold has been produced in California since the gold rush?

• 5 million ounces

• 12 million ounces

• 20 million ounces

• 118 million ounces

How many cubic yards of dirt and rocks were removed from the Sierra hillsides through hydraulic mining?

• 1 billion cubic yards

• 1.5 billion cubic yards

• 2 billion cubic yards

• 8 billion cubic yards

What was the environmental impact of hydraulic mining?

• Contamination of surrounding environment

• Diversion of rivers

• Clogging of rivers

• All of the above