How did people get gold before there were modern machines for mining it?

Before modern mining machines were invented, people used different methods to mine gold.

One method was panning for gold, which involved using a shallow pan filled with water and swirling it around to separate the heavy gold from the sand and gravel. This method was often used in rivers and streams.

Another method was placer mining, where miners would dig pits or channels to divert water to wash away the gravel and expose the gold. They would then use hand tools, such as picks and shovels, to extract the gold from the gravel.

Hard rock mining was another method, where miners would dig deep into the earth to extract gold from veins of rock. This method involved using hand tools like chisels, hammers, and drills, as well as explosives to break up the rock.

Overall, these methods were labor-intensive and required a lot of skill and patience. Gold mining was often a dangerous and difficult job, but the lure of wealth drove many people to pursue it.