Gold
Gold was first discovered in the Carolinas over 150 years ago, starting the first "gold rush" in North America. In 1802, gold was discovered in Greenville County. South Carolina's first gold was mined and shipped from Kershaw County's Haile mine in 1829. During the same period, gold was discovered in Chesterfield County by Burwell Brewer. The Brewer Mine reached its peak production in the 1830's.
William B. (Billy) Dorn of McCormick discovered gold on his estate in 1835, which led to a major strike in 1852. By 1849, at the peak of its production, the Dorn Gold Mine had produced nearly a million dollars worth of the precious metal. The Dorn Estates became McCormick County in 1916.
In the late 1970's the price of gold skyrocketed. This price increase, coupled with new mining and processing techniques, revitalized South Carolina's gold mining industry. Today, low-grade gold ores are processed economically by chemically dissolving the gold from crushed rock. Typically in South Carolina, 20 to 30 tons of rock must be processed to extract one ounce of gold.
The beauty and luster of gold makes it the most prized metal of jewelry. Its value continues to make it important in the manufacturing of coins, such as the American Eagle and the Canadian Maple Leaf. It is also used extensively in electronics where its electrical conductivity and non-tarnishing characteristics make it an important part of modern high quality electronic circuitry.
Kennecott Ridgeway Mining Company
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Gemstones
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Silver
Silver as a mineral, is not usually mined by iteslf, but found mixed with other metals. Lead, zinc, copper, gold and silver are sometimes all found together in the same ore. Through the refining process each mineral is seperated from the other to become its own concentrated form. Sometimes small pockets in the earth or long narrow veins contain concentrated silver ore. After refining, silver is then used in the photography and jewelry industries.
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