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Whatever your feelings are about the mining industry, there’s no escaping the fact that virtually everything you use on a daily basis is a product of mining. The toothpaste you freshened your mouth with this morning, the vehicles that transport you wherever you need to go, and the device on which you’re reading this article – every one of them came to you courtesy of the mines. Since this industry has such a hold on modern society, it’s worth knowing at least a little about its history. Here are four of the most fascinating historical mining facts to get you started:
1. Mining is older than you think
You’re probably aware that mining isn’t a recent addition to human activity, but did you know it actually dates back thousands of years to prehistoric times? Long before LED light towers and automation were making life easier for miners, our ancestors were delving into the earth in search of raw materials. Mining has, in fact, been traced back as far as the Neolithic Era (circa 10,000 BCE. Some of the oldest known Neolithic mining sites are located in Norfolk, England.
2. The history of mining is filled with scams
There have been countless cases of deception and fraud in the mining industry. However, one of the biggest cons of all time was carried out at a gold mine in Indonesia. Rumors spread that this was going to be the largest gold mine the world had ever seen. However, it was all a diabolical ruse.
The mine had barely a skerrick of gold, but by the time the truth came out, the mine’s stocks were being sold for $200 a pop. If you’re interested in learning more about this almighty scam, the whole story is outlined in the movie, Gold.
3. The gold rush inspired the largest mass migration of humans in US history
In March of 1848, California was a sparsely populated region, with fewer than 800 immigrants. The bulk of the 157,000-strong population was made up of Native Americans, with around 6,500 Mexicans making up the remainder. By the end of 1849, the non-native population had skyrocketed above 100,000, with no signs of slowing down.
Over the years that followed, the population grew to such an extent that California was responsible for more than a tenth of the massive nation’s total population. This population boom brings us neatly to the next fascinating fact.
4. Mining has inspired modern vernacular
You may have noticed that the gold rush and resultant population boom took place in 1849. This is where the name for the San Francisco Forty-niners came from, and it’s not the only time the mining industry brought new words into common use. If you’ve ever referred to a bountiful haul as “the mother load,” then you can thank the mining industry for this term. It actually started off as “mother lode.” However, non-mining folk mistook “lode” for it for its homonym, “load” (FYI: a “lode” is a natural resource deposit).
You’ve probably also heard about “the luck of the Irish.” Once again, this term arose from mining. Many of the most successful miners from America’s gold and silver rushes were of Irish descent, and the phenomenon gave rise to the idea that there must be some inherent luck nestled in Irish genes.
The history of mining is as deep and rich as the resources the industry is devoted to. Now you know just a little bit more about the miners who built the modern world.
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