Like mining for coal underground.

Could be many hundreds of feet underground.

Sometimes used horses or mules to pull the material out from underground.

Used giant water cannons called monitors to break rocks from cliffs.

Washed rocks and gold down a stream to be found later.

Miners then had to pan for the gold to retrieve it.

Takes a lot of time and patients.

Works by swirling water in a pan with rocks and sand and letting the gold sink to the bottom.

You can still do this today for fun.