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Unit : Gold and mining

Topic 1 : What is gold?

Pictures

Chapter: Gold deposits

Image 1 - Volcanic eruptions lead to the creation of gold.
Image 2 - Secondary gold deposits are frequently found in rivers.
Image 3 - Gold as we know it is processed thoroughly before it is used.

Chapter: Importance of gold to different cultures over time

Image 1 - Tutankhamen's Death Mask - the Egyptians believed that gold was the flesh of the sun god, Ra.
Image 2 - The use of a gold ring to represent an engagement began in the Roman era with the Aemilia ring.
Image 3 - Gold chalice. Gold has always been a sacred metal in the eyes of Christians.

Chapter: Gold in myth and legend

Image 1 - Tommyknockers were believed to inhabit the walls of mines and warn of an impending collapse by knocking.
Image 2 - El Dorado was also known as 'the Gilded One' and is believed to have coated his body in gold.
Image 3 - Blackbeard took the secret of his buried treasure to his grave.

Chapter: Early mining methods

Image 1 - Panning was the earliest method of finding gold and is still practised today.
Image 2 - Cradling was introduced to Australia by Edward Hargraves.

Topic 2 : Discovering gold

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Chapter: Australian gold rush timeline

Image 1 - The Sydney Mint was the first Royal Mint to be established outside the United Kingdom.
Image 2 - The Welcome Stranger nugget (replica shown) remains the biggest pure gold nugget found anywhere in the world.
Image 3 - The Holtermann Nugget is the world's largest piece of gold-bearing material ever found.

Chapter: Edward Hargraves

Image 1 - Edward Hargraves
Image 2 - Cradling was an innovative mining method introduced by Edward Hargraves.
Image 3 - Hargraves discovered the Ophir goldfields at Bathurst.

Chapter: Discovering gold in Australia

Image 1 - Australia is a leader in research into mine safety.
Image 2 - Overseas troops admired the close-knit "mateship" between Australian soldiers.
Image 3 - The Chinese have become a powerful presence in Australian society.

Chapter: Gold by State

Image 1 - The discovery of gold excited the populations of Victoria and New South Wales.
Image 2 - Charters Towers was one of Queensland's major gold producing regions.
Image 3 - Kalgoorlie soon became Australia's richest gold producing region.

Topic 3 : Impact and effects of discovering gold

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Chapter: Government policy and infrastructure

Image 1 - The gold licence was the cause of major tensions in the mining community.
Image 2 - The gold rush brought new prosperity and prestige to Melbourne.
Image 3 - William Wentworth led the push towards Federation.

Chapter: One people's discovery, another people's loss - the effect on Aboriginal people

Image 1 - Destruction of their environment was a major source of grief for Aboriginal people.
Image 2 - Some Aboriginal people were employed as troopers to accompany the gold coaches from Melbourne and Sydney.
Image 3 - Aboriginal people's pathfinding skills brought them fame as trackers.

Chapter: Bushrangers and the Convicts' Prevention Act

Image 1 - Bushrangers robbed many diggers on the goldfields.
Image 2 - The first bushrangers were 'bolters' - escapees from convict settlements.
Image 3 - William Westgarth introduced the Convicts Prevention Act to stop released convicts entering Victoria.

Topic 4 : Way of life

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Chapter: Life on the goldfields

Image 1 - Diggers would make a hut out of whatever materials they could find.
Image 2 - Some diggers were fortunate enough to have their wives at the goldfields.
Image 3 - The sly-grog shop was an unwelcome addition to life on the goldfields.

Chapter: Women on the goldfields

Image 1 - Woman with baby on the goldfields.
Image 2 - A few women established successful businesses on the goldfields, selling a range of domestic goods.
Image 3 - Lola Montez was a popular though controversial entertainer in the gold rush era.

Chapter: Chinese diggers

Image 1 - Chinese miners often travelled up to 1000 kilometres on foot to reach the goldfields.
Image 2 - Resentment between European and Chinese miners exploded into violence on 30 June 1861.

Topic 5 : Shaping Australian identity and creating heritage

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Chapter: Difficulties faced by migrants and the lasting impact on Australia

Image 1 - The gold rush brought tremendous waves of immigration to Australia.
Image 2 - An acute shortage of accommodation led to the establishment of 'Canvas Towns' in many parts of Melbourne.
Image 3 - Gold rush immigration policies persisted into the 20th century.

Chapter: People's roles, rights and democracy

Image 1 - Troopers soon became an unpopular part of life on the goldfields.
Image 2 - Most diggers resented the gold licence.
Image 3 - The Southern Cross flag became a symbol of unity and rebellion against unfair laws.

Chapter: The Eureka Stockade

Image 1 - Miners
Image 2 - Peter Lalor
Image 3 - The stockade

Chapter: James McBrien, Caroline Chisholm and Ned Kelly

Image 1 - Caroline Chisholm was a philanthropist and activist.
Image 2 - Ned Kelly (1854-1880) is celebrated by some as a rebellious larrikin but reviled by others as an outlaw and murderer.
Image 3 - Despite a petition with 30 000 signatures, Ned Kelly was hanged at Old Melbourne Gaol on 11 November 1880.

Topic 6 : Australian mining

Pictures

Chapter: Success of early mining methods

Image 1 - Panning was the most commonly used mining method during the gold rush era.
Image 2 - Cradling was an innovative mining method that could yield considerable rewards for the persistent miner.
Image 3 - Shaft mining is the most common method used today.

Chapter: Australian mining

Image 1 - Geologists will conduct extensive tests to determine what ores exist in the area to be mined.
Image 2 - Sea mining is considered a promising method for the future.
Image 3 - Sea creatures may be severely affected by mining.

Chapter: Mining today: open-cut and underground mining

Image 1 - Open-cut mining is the most common mining method employed by companies today.
Image 2 - Underground mining is complex and requires extensive organisation and comprehensive safety plans.
Image 3 - The oceans are being investigated as a rich source of minerals for the future.

Chapter: Dangers: people

Image 1 - Cave-ins are the most common of all mining accidents.
Image 2 - Fires occur through methane gas build-up, faulty electrical equipment or flammable liquids.
Image 3 - The MSTC was established in 2004 to monitor and improve mining safety standards.

Chapter: Environment 1: dangers

Image 1 - Native animals can be severely affected by mining projects if their habitat is damaged or removed.
Image 2 - The Curly Bark wattle has become a threatened species because of mining.
Image 3 - Persistent mining can cause permanent damage to riverbeds through subsidence.

Chapter: Environment 2: preparing an EMOS

Image 1 - Geologists must conduct widespread environmental tests to assess the potential effects of a mining project.
Image 2 - Mining companies must seek the approval of nearby communities before they mine a particular area.
Image 3 - Rivers can be poisoned through the dumping of toxic wastes.

Study guides

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