Jump to navigation

Picture This:
California Perspectives on American History
  • Home
  • Browse Pictures
  • Picture Map
  • Log In
  • Activities
  • Teaching Resources
  • About the Website

Search form

Gold Rush: 1848–1860: Mining Techniques

Click image to zoom in.
Or view larger version.
Entrances to two mine shafts; man with shovel standing at one of the entrances. 1904. Unknown photographer. Glass print. Collection of Oakland Museum of California. Gift of Tom Springer.

This photograph shows a hard rock miner at the mouth of a mine shaft. After most of the placer gold was found during the California Gold Rush, miners had to tunnel into the earth’s surface to reach gold located in quartz veins. Miners blasted and dug their way through the mountains to reach the quartz rock filled with gold.

  • More information about this Topic
Timeline: Gold Rush: 1848–1860
« previous picture
next picture »

Browse By Timeline

  • Early California: pre-1769–1840s
  • Gold Rush: 1848–1860
  • Early Statehood: 1850 – 1880s
  • Progressive Era: 1890–1920s
  • Depression Era: 1930s
  • World War II Homefront Era: 1940s
  • Homogenization, Protests & Outright Rebellion: 1950s
  • Unforgettable Change: 1960s
  • Cultural Realignment & Economic Recession: 1970s
  • The Reagan Years: 1980s
  • 1990s to Present

Also, browse by Theme or by Most Useful

California.  Many Voices.  Many Stories.  Oakland Museum of California
Picture This is a project of the Oakland Museum of California