At one time most of the gold output of British Columbia was derived from placers, chiefly from those in the Atlin and Cariboo districts, but less than 5 per cent. came from that source in 1917. The main lode mining districts are West Kootenay and Yale, in the southern part of the province.[166] Gold production in 1917 amounted to about half of the total for 1916.
[166] “Production of Copper, Gold, Lead, Nickel, Silver, Zinc, and Other Metals in Canada, 1917.” Canadian Department of Mines, Mines Branch, 1919.
Gold has been known in the Yukon Territory since 1869 and the deposits have been actively worked since 1881. The greater part of the placers of Forty-mile River and all of Sixty-mile River are within Canadian jurisdiction. In 1897 came the discovery of the Klondike. Gold production reached its height in Yukon Territory in 1900, when the output was 1,077,649 fine ounces, valued at $22,000,000. Practically all of the 1917 production was derived from placer deposits.
Gold was mined in Quebec as early as 1823, but Canada was of little importance as a gold-producing region prior to the discovery of the British Columbia placers in 1857. Gold deposits of little economic value are still worked in Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. Prospecting and development work in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta indicate that these provinces may become important producers of gold.
Mexico.
—For many years Mexico ranked fourth among the gold-producing countries of the world, being surpassed only by the Transvaal, the United States, and Australasia. Revolutions and bandit warfare have seriously interfered with mining operations since 1911, and the output of gold in 1917 was little more than one-third of the normal annual yield. With the establishment of a stable government, able to protect foreign investments, Mexico will no doubt regain its former position.
A large part of the gold output of Mexico is obtained as a by-product from lead, silver, zinc, and copper ores. The only true gold-mining district is the El Oro district of the states of Mexico and Michoacan. The chief producing mines are the Esperanza, El Oro, Mexico Mines of El Oro, and Dos Estrellas. In 1906 the Esperanza was considered, in respect to both actual output and profits earned, the most productive gold mine in the world. Since then it has been surpassed by mines of the United States and the Transvaal. Another famous gold mine of Mexico, the Dolores, situated in western Chihuahua, yields ore whose silver content is almost equal in value to the gold. Lower California, Sonora, Durango, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosi, Guanajuato, and Chiapas are all gold-producing states.
Central America.
—At the time of the discovery of America, the Spanish were attracted to the region now included in the states of Central America by reports of fabulously rich mines and of the wealth of the Indians. A number of expeditions were sent out in search of the gold and some rich mines were discovered and worked. Gold is still produced in Central America, but the total amount is small, being less than 1 per cent. of the world total in 1913. Honduras is the richest of the states in production and Nicaragua ranks second, the principal centers of the gold-mining industry being in the Departments of Matagalpa and Chontales, and in the district of Cabo Gracias and Prinzapolka.[167]
[167] U. S. Commerce Reports, Supplement 34a, 1915, p. 4.