About Gold Rush 21

Gold Rush 21 is an independent history and reference project about the metal that has driven exploration, migration, conflict and finance for thousands of years. We tell the story of the great gold rushes, explain how gold is actually mined, and make sense of the modern gold market in plain language.

What we cover

• The American Rush: the 1849 California Gold Rush and its long shadow.
• Gold Mining: every method from a hand pan to industrial cyanide leaching.
• Gold Markets: what moves the price, how to own gold, and the history of the gold standard.
• Other Rushes: the Klondike, Australia, the Witwatersrand and beyond.

Our standards

We ground our articles in reputable sources, including the World Gold Council, the USGS, and standard historical references, and we flag figures that are contested or that change over time, such as the live gold price and estimates of total gold ever mined. Our content is general history and education, not investment advice.

A note on this domain

The goldrush21.com name has a long history in the gold community. We are rebuilding it as an open, editorial reference. If you would like to contribute, see our Write for Us page.