Located near Jackson, California, the Kennedy Mine is one of the world's deepest gold mines dug deep into the earth at 5,912 feet. While the famous California Gold Rush of the mid-1800s made people swoon at the thought of big nuggets, the Kennedy Mine produced enough gold from that initial gold rush up until 1942 to account for approximately $34,280, according to the California Department of Conservation. The mine is open for visitors and is home to one of the world's tallest head frames and largest stamp mills. Tour the mine from March through October on Saturday, Sunday and nationally recognized holidays. See the facility where gold flakes became bricks before shipping, as well as the stamp and gold recovery mill. Watch an educational video of miners from 1914 before shopping for souvenirs in the gift shop. Bring a lunch and enjoy the scenery or pay for admission to the one-and-a-half-hour guided tour. Admission is $10 per adult and $6 for children. Kids under six are free, as of October 2010.
The world's largest gold reserve ever discovered is in the Grasberg mine located in Tembagapura, Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Since the open-pit mine was found in 1988, it has developed into one of Indonesia's greatest assets. According to Global InfoMines, the Grasberg Mine has produced wealth in excess of $33 billion from 1992 to 2004. The mine accounts for approximately two percent of Indonesia's gross domestic product and nearly 55 percent of the GDP on the island of Irian Jaya, where it is located. Situated at more than 14,000 feet above sea level, the Grasberg Mine also produces the world's second-largest quantity of copper. The entire mining complex consists of mills, screening and crushing facilities and a pumping station.
The first U.S. gold rush was in North Carolina, not California. In 1799, a farmer named John Reed discovered a 17-pound nugget of gold. Reed Gold Mine, named after him, began work in 1802. After producing more than one million dollars worth of gold in one year, North Carolina became the leading gold producer in the U.S. until the California Gold Rush of 1848. The gold mines have since been restored for visitors. As of October 2010, admission is free for a tour of a visitors' center with gold and mining equipment exhibits, as well as a walk through underground mine tunnels. The mine is open from April through October, and features several hiking trails and archaeological sites. Gold panning is available at $2 per pan or a discounted $1.50 per pan for a group.
