On the morning of January 24, 1848, as Marshall began digging a pit to provide water access for the future building, an incredible discovery changed their fate. At the bottom of this pit, Marshall made a stunning discovery: glittering gold nuggets! He immediately rushed to inform Johann Sutter.

Together, they tested the nuggets and discovered they were 96% real gold. By chance, this extraordinary find sparked the legendary "California Dream" and the famous North American Gold Rush.

At first, Sutter wanted to keep this discovery secret, fearing that a mob of gold prospectors would invade his land and put an end to his project. Despite his request for secrecy, the news spread like wildfire throughout the country.

A few weeks later, businessman Samuel Brannan wandered the streets of San Francisco brandishing gold nuggets, shouting to the winds: "Gold! There's gold in the American River!"

In August 1848, the New York Herald newspaper picked up the story and claimed credit for being the first to report the Gold Rush in print. Californians were the first to respond to this call, searching for gold as if it were real treasure. Prospectors also flocked from all walks of life.

In June, the California government was alerted by Colonel Mason, who noted in his writings that this discovery had shaken the state, prompting all residents, regardless of social status or profession, to abandon their jobs and go to the mines. He even included a few gold nuggets in his letter.

In December 1848, US President James Polk first discussed gold before Congress, marking the beginning of an extraordinary political dimension to the gold rush.

Gold is used today in several areas, including:

- Jewelry and crafts: Gold is used to create jewelry and crafts because of its beauty, shine, and strength.

- Electronics industry: Gold is used in the manufacture of electronic components due to its high electrical and thermal conductivity, as well as its resistance to corrosion.

- Medicine: Gold is used in dentistry and sometimes as a medical treatment for certain conditions, although its use is limited.

- Food: Edible gold is used in luxury gastronomy, but its use is regulated and limited due to safety and health issues.

📜 Mineralogical Sheet: Gold (Au)