Spanish Gold
Posted in Uncategorized on 11/25/2007 12:49 am by admin
Spanish Gold
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 New Spanish Leather By Sergio Zelcer Gold Black Rhinestone Strappy Heels 75 M  US $40.49
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Gold and Silver at past times
For more than 6,000 years, people have cherished and fought over gold, and this metal was responsible in part for the making of civilization. Gold is the universally accepted medium of exchange. It is also a status symbol, and down through the ages people have adorned their bodies with this metal regardless of its great weight. Along with diamonds, gold is exchanged during marriage ceremonies in most parts of the world. Gold is even believed to have healing powers. People in Japan seek its medicinal powers by bathing in a tub fashioned into a shape of a phoenix made from 400 pounds of pure gold.
Gold does not tarnish and resists corrosion; gold coins recovered from sunken treasure ships that have lain on the bottom of the ocean for centuries look as bright as new. Gold is extremely malleable, and a single ounce can be beaten into a sheet covering nearly 100 square feet. Visitors to Bangkok, Thailand, are often awestruck by the apparent abundance of gold spread on the roofs of temples and other buildings until one realizes how extremely thin gold gilding can be made. Even glass coated with a thin film of gold can reflect the summer's sun and retain a building's heat during the winter to cut down on utility costs.
The California gold rush began in early 1848 with the discovery of gold at John Sutter's sawmill near present-day Sacramento. Word spread like wildfire, and Californians headed for the hills to mine gold. They were soon joined by get-rich-quick men from other parts of the country, who stormed into California from all directions. Several thousand poorly equipped fortune hunters died along the way, most from disease, famine, and cold. Mining camps sprang into shantytowns, where miners lived under primitive conditions and claim disputes and drunken brawls were common. Supplies had to be paid for in gold dust, and prices were exorbitant. Of the many thousands who went into the mountains to dig for gold, only a few actually got rich, most of who did so by mining the pockets of other miners.
The gold-bearing veins of the foothills of the western Sierra Nevada Range in California are usually steeply inclined ledges dipping down into the granite roots of the mountains. The hydrothermal veins of the Mother Lode system trend north-south, covering a distance of some 200 miles. The veins are composed of hard, milky white quartz, generally no more than three feet wide. The quartz might have a few specks of gold and pyrite (fool's gold) sprinkled throughout, but seldom did stringers of pure gold shoot through the veins. Most miners panned for gold out of the sands and gravels that washed down from the mountains.
Gold has a specific gravity or density of about 19, making it roughly eight times heavier than ordinary sands and gravels. Therefore, if gold sands are placed in suspension with water by vigorous swirling or sluicing, the gold falls out of the mixture and onto the bottom of a gold pan or sluice box. This technique is known as placer mining, and for this type of mine to be profitable, many tons of sand and gravel along with large quantities of water have to be processed. An individual panning for gold will most likely not get rich, but at the present price of around $300 a troy ounce (12 ounces per pound), he or she might possibly find enough to pay for provisions with a little left over. The forty-niners rarely did so.
The gold rush was not confined to California but headed eastward into Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada. The gold of Carlin, Nevada, is an oddity, however. The gold flakes are so small they cannot be seen even with most microscopes. Yet those tiny specks add up to at least 85 million ounces, making the area the world's third-largest gold producing region. The gold boiled up in the same hot magma plume or hot spot that gave rise to Yellowstone National Park. Along its way to its present location, the hot spot left a trail of basins, volcanoes, and geysers from Nevada, across Idaho, and into Wyoming. About 40 million years ago, the hot spot rested underneath Carlin, where gases and water saturated with gold shot up toward the surface.
Perhaps the most spectacular mining episodes and mines with the most colourful names were located in the Colorado Mountains, which are peppered with old abandoned mining camps, attesting to the many thousands who had more gold in their eyes than they found in the ground. When the underground mines played out, gold dredging techniques were developed. Some of the old mining towns eventually became ski resorts, gambling destinations, and tourist attractions; many more became ghost towns with only a few remnants to mark the past.
Silver is often associated with gold, and the Comstock Lode in Nevada was the scene of one of the largest mining booms in the history of the opening of the American West. Although silver was originally discovered in 1859, production did not peak until the 1870s.Many mines were scattered along a three mile mineralized fault zone that separated young volcanic rocks from older rocks. The lode forms a slab, inclined about 40 degrees to the horizontal, and reaches a thickness of 400 feet and a depth of 3,000 feet below the surface. The silver combines with sulphur to make simple silver minerals such as argentite, with a nearly 3 percent gold content, which helped make mining more profitable.
The gold and silver mines in South America were responsible in large part for the Spanish settlement there shortly after Columbus discovered the Americas. Natives of the Inca Empire, which stretched halfway down the Andes Mountains, extending some 3,000 miles from Colombia to Argentina, mined gold and silver out of eroded stumps of ancient volcanoes. Cerro Rico ("hill of silver") in Bolivia is a 15,000-foot volcano that was literally shot through with veins of silver.
When the Spanish conquistadors first landed in Peru in 1532, they found the Inca Empire torn apart by civil war. The Spaniards had little trouble taking over the empire and captured a great deal of gold and silver along with masterpieces of Inca goldsmiths, which they melted into bullion and sent on to Spain. Some Spanish galleons, heavily loaded with gold and silver, were lost during storms at sea, and today their precious cargoes are eagerly sought after by undersea treasure hunters.
Joseph Kieffer
http://jewelryuk.org
from: http://hand-crafted-jewelry.com
About the Author
Article from: http://hand-crafted-jewelry.com/
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Spanish Search for Aztec Gold $44.99 English School Spanish Search for Aztec Gold - Giclee Print |
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Spanish Gold $28.48 Sean Cummings came west to ride his Arab horses in the mountains and high deserts. He anticipated quiet scenic rides and good fishing, but stumbling onto an old mine turned the trip into a nightmare. Indians, guardians of hidden treasure, beat him and left him to die. Rumors of buried treasure swept Roosevelt when Sean and a small silver ingot were brought to the hospital. A small group of locals vowed no outsider would walk away with Spanish Gold. They would have it, even if it meant breaking the law, even if it meant committing murder. The Law was no help. The Sheriff wouldnat believe his story. Sean was alone, fighting for his life against enemies he couldnat even identify. He wanted the gold and revenge. Sean would have the treasure and, if he could, the love of the beautiful Mormon girl who befriended him at the hospital. |
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A Spanish Bishop in Ornate Gold and White Ceremonial Vestments $39.99 A Spanish Bishop in Ornate Gold and White Ceremonial Vestments - Giclee Print |
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Caribbean Natives Washing Gold for the Spanish Conquerors $39.99 Caribbean Natives Washing Gold for the Spanish Conquerors - Giclee Print |
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Spanish Gold Doubloon, Looted by Pirates, 1714 $49.99 Spanish Gold Doubloon, Looted by Pirates, 1714 - Giclee Print |
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The Gold Rush, Spanish Movie Poster, 1925 $34.99 The Gold Rush, Spanish Movie Poster, 1925 - Giclee Print |
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Vinyl Twistees Spanish Gold Each $14.99 Our Spanish Gold Twistees are ideal for decorating floats, tables, banners, signs, fences or can even be used in your Christmas decorating. Each strand of our Spanish gold garland measures 4 inches wide x 48 feet long and is made from vinyl material. Create a fabulous look with our easy-to-work with Spanish Gold Twistees. |
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Curse of the Spanish Gold $17.53 Curse of the Spanish Gold is the heart-pounding continuation of the epic saga that Terry Grosz began in Crossed Arrows. The babies Jacob and Martin have grown into men-Mountain Men-near Fort Bridger. But in 1852, they are a generation too late. The wilderness is shrinking as gold fever takes its toll, beaver pelts have played out, the buffalo are vanishing, and the two young men must seek their fortune westward. They become unwitting wagon-train masters, and then continue their trek to the Pacific Ocean where destiny plays the cruelest of tricks. Desperate Indians, ruthless outlaws and wild beasts stand in their way. This is a novel of life in the lawless 1850s American West, and of two men caught in the cross hairs of destiny. |
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Gold Spanish DoubloonSparkles Like Treasure in the Surf $39.99 Stephen St. John Gold Spanish DoubloonSparkles Like Treasure in the Surf - Photographic Print |
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Abandoned Spanish Colonial Mission and Mexican Gold Poppies $39.99 Rich Reid Abandoned Spanish Colonial Mission and Mexican Gold Poppies - Photographic Print |
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Table Lamp with 3 Candle Style Design in Spanish Gold Finish $174.45 Table Lamp with 3 Candle Style Design in Spanish Gold Finish |
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The Lure of Spanish Gold Framed Print $69.95 Fans of pirate lore (and ill-gotten gains) will love artist David Delamare's latest voyage to the Spanish Main: buccaneers and sirens, welcoming a cargo of plundered Spanish gold! Reproduced in color from the original painting, it's mounted in a goldtoned wood frame, under glass, with a sawtooth hanger for instant display. Made in USA. 15" x 25". |
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Gold Spanish Comb $4.99 Sparkling gold with colorful jewels atop a plastic hair comb. |
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Spanish $19.99 Spanish - Premium Poster |
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English Oak and Spanish Gold $27.61 A swashbuckling adventure with gold and pirates. Author: Mawhinney, Thomas A. H./ Lee, Manning De V. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 322 Publication Date: 2010/12/31 Language: English Dimensions: 8.50 x 5.51 x 0.72 inches |
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Spanish Treasure Fleet $79.66 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles The Spanish treasure fleets (or West Indies Fleet from Spanish Flota de Indias) was a convoy system adopted by the Spanish Empire from 1566 to 1790. The convoys were general purpose fleets used for transporting a wide variety of items, including agricultural goods and sometimes even lumber, manufactures and various metal resources and luxuries, most famously silver and gold, but also gems, pearls, spices, sugar, tobacco, silk, and other exotic goods from the Spanish colonies to Spain. Manufactures such as tools and other everyday items as well as Spanish emmigrants were transported in the opposite direction. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Timpledon, Miriam T./ Marseken, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 120 Publication Date: 2010/07/14 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.28 inches |
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Gold Prospectors Using a Long Tom Sluice at Spanish Flat, California, 1852 $39.99 Gold Prospectors Using a Long Tom Sluice at Spanish Flat, California, 1852 - Photographic Print |
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In 1823, the Mary Dear Was Filled with Gold from Peru and Spanish Nobles $49.99 Barrie Linklater In 1823, the Mary Dear Was Filled with Gold from Peru and Spanish Nobles - Giclee Print |
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A Fragment, Perhaps from a Gold Ewer, was Found in the Sunken Spanish Galleon Concepcion $39.99 Sisse Brimberg A Fragment, Perhaps from a Gold Ewer, was Found in the Sunken Spanish Galleon Concepcion - Photographic Print |
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Gold Brooch Recovered from a Sunken Spanish Ship off the Coast of Havana $39.99 Ira Block Gold Brooch Recovered from a Sunken Spanish Ship off the Coast of Havana - Photographic Print |
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Gold Earrings Hung with Pearls are Part of the Treasure Recovered from a Spanish Galleon $39.99 Ira Block Gold Earrings Hung with Pearls are Part of the Treasure Recovered from a Spanish Galleon - Photographic Print |
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Hoieda Spanish Commander of Cartagena Sacks a Village Hoping to Find Much Gold $49.99 Theodor de Bry Hoieda Spanish Commander of Cartagena Sacks a Village Hoping to Find Much Gold - Giclee Print |
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Gold Satin Sash - Pirate, Mexican or Spanish Costume Accessories $7.39 Gold Satin Sash - Pirate, Mexican or Spanish Costume Accessories - This sash is gold with white fringe. See our red sash also(ACC205). |
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The Spanish Treasure Fleets $15.73 - New paperback edition - The story of the expeditions of Spanish explorers told through the history of the first American currency: pleces of eight - Traces the rise and fall of Spain's world dominance - Chronicles the developments in transportation, organization, and military technology based on competition for gold and silver |
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Spanish Serenade $6.99 They were united by a common hatred for one man, and brought together by a passion that neither one was expecting. Beautiful, headstrong Pilar Sandoval y Serna is desperate to escape the restrictive tyranny of her evil stepfather, Don Esteban. She is willing to forfeit everything for a chance at freedom. In her desperation, she turns to El Leon, a brooding nobleman impoverished by the malignant power of Don Esteban. Sharing their grudge, they enter into an alliance of convenience. Little does she know that the handsome brigand, El Leon, will lead her into a new sort of captivity. Pilar offers her entire dowry to El Leon in exchange for his loyalty and help. He plans to stage her kidnapping and eventual return to her beloved Aunt. However, before their plan reaches fruition, El Leon discovers that the dowry is a sham, and that Don Esteban is planning to kill them both. Not willing to settle for an empty trunk of fool's gold, El Leon is determined to get his money's worth out of Pilar...in any currency he chooses. |
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Little Gold Star: A Spanish American Cinderella Tale $19.07 Blessed Mary rewards Teresa's good deeds with a shining gold star. Later she punishes Teresa's unkind stepsisters, Isabel and Inez, with hideous horns and donkey's ears that they try to hide under heavy veils But will Teresa outshine her stepsisters at the festival? Robert D. San Souci retells this popular folktale in a lilting narrative that includes all the magic of the beloved Cinderella story and traditional elements from Spanish tales. Luminous watercolors by Sergio Martinez accentuate the beauty and goodness that radiate from "Little Gold Star." A Selection of the Junior Library Guild A Selection of Nest Literary Classics |
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Hunter 28049 Aventine 52-in Cocoa with Spanish Gold Accents Ceiling Fan with Light $219.99 Aventine 52-in Cocoa w/ Spanish Gold Accents Ceiling Fan with Light - 28049. 120 Watt Bowl Light Fixture |
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A Selection of Gold Bars Recovered from the Wreck of the Spanish Galleon Nuestra Senora De Atocha $34.99 A Selection of Gold Bars Recovered from the Wreck of the Spanish Galleon Nuestra Senora De Atocha - Giclee Print |