where is most of the world's gold mined
Gold mining As of 2016, the world's largest gold producer was China with 463.7 tonnes. The second-largest producer, Australia, mined 287.3 tonnes in the same year, followed by Russia with 274.4 tonnes.[1]
Australian gold rushes Edward Hargraves, accompanied by John Lister, found five specks of alluvial gold at Ophir near Orange in February 1851. Then, in April 1851, John Lister and William Tom, trained by Edward Hargraves, found 120 grams of gold. This discovery, instigated by Hargraves, led directly to the beginning of the gold rush in New South Wales. This was the first gold rush in Australia and was in full operation by May 1851,[70] even before it was officially proclaimed on 14 May 1851,[44] with already an estimated 300 diggers in place by 15 May 1851.[71] Before 14 May 1851 gold was already flowing from Bathurst to Sydney,[72] an example being when Edward Austin[73] brought to Sydney a nugget of gold worth Â£35, which had been found in the Bathurst District.[74]