South America
South America was also an important source of gold during the years following the discovery of America. The early conquerors obtained gold by plundering the temples, churches, and even the graves of the natives. Following the conquest, the Spaniards by means of their slaves systematically searched much of the continent for gold deposits. About 15 per cent. ($2,266,000,000) of all the gold produced between 1492 and 1917 came from South America.
Today South America is of little importance as a gold producer, the combined yield of all the countries for 1913 being about 2.5 per cent. of the world total. The great bulk of the South American production has so far been alluvial gold. With the establishment of more stable governments and the improvement of transportation facilities it is likely that the production of South America will increase.
According to Maclaren[168] the gold fields of South America are disposed in three somewhat sharply separated areas. The chief area is that extending the length of the Andes from the Isthmus of Panama to central Chile and including the deposits of Colombia. The second area is contained in a well-marked petrographic and metallographic province extending across the rearland of the Guianas and including also the mines of Venezuela and northern Brazil. The third area is contained in the province of Minas Geraes, Brazil. Some gold is obtained from Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Uruguay. The chief gold-bearing areas of Colombia are Choco, the Department of Antioquia, and the district lying between the Cauca and Magdalena rivers. Fairly rich deposits have also been found in Colombia near the Ecuadorian border.[169]
[168] Maclaren, J. Malcolm: “Gold: Its Geological Occurrence and Geographical Distribution, 1908,” p. 619.
[169] U. S. Commerce Reports, Supplement 42b, 1915, p. 12.
The principal mines of Brazil are the St. John del Rey mine, and the mines owned by the Ouro Preto Gold Mines of Brazil, Ltd., both in the State of Minas Geraes. The former mine is said to be the deepest in the world.
Europe
Although Europe in the past has played an important part in the production of gold, very little is mined at the present time. Previous to the discovery of America, much of the gold in use came from the Alps and from Hungary. Deposits were also worked in England, Ireland, Wales, Spain, and Germany.
The only gold mines in Europe of any present economic importance are in the former empire of Austria-Hungary, France, and the Urals of Russia. In the south of France gold has been produced along the streams flowing from the Pyrenees, and also in the eastern provinces. At present only three mines are in operation, which in 1911 produced 2,554 kilograms of gold. The Hungarian deposits are very old, as they were worked by the Romans 2,000 years ago. Most of the producing mines of today are in Transylvania. Russia is credited with producing 5.8 per cent. of the world total in 1913. A small part of this production came from the Urals of European Russia, chiefly as a by-product from other ores, but the greater part was obtained in Siberia. The Siberian deposits are discussed below, under Asia.