The history of the state of Colorado goes long back and is greatly entwined with the history of discovery and utilization of rich gold mines in the area. The history of active Gold mining in the area starts from 1858 and has played a great role in the establishment of this state and its subsequent progress and economic growth, which ran parallel to the developments in mining . According to Wikipedia, there are gold mines in several districts of the state and even now, large quantities of gold are being mined and produced.
Brief History of Gold-mining in Colorado:
The region of eastern Colorado appears not to have been visited by Spanish explorers until the middle of the seventeenth century, although they did travel through the western, central and southern parts of the state. In 1739, a small party of Frenchmen travelled through the eastern part of the state. However the records found were left by Americans, among whom were Pike (1805-06), Long (1820), Bonneville(1832), Dodge (1835), Fremont (1842...), etc. None of them however, mention any detail of discovery of gold mines. Gold is claimed to have been discovered by a member of the Fremont party, yet no identification of the place has been successful. This happened near the site of Lake City in about 1848.
Later geological surveys have revealed greater details about this area and given larger insight into the mining areas and processes. In 1849, the great Transcontinental migration began and the travelers found the difficult peaks of Colorado hard to surmount and the only available land-routes were through Wyoming in the north, and the Santa Fe route, through New Mexico, in the south.
Until 1858, any knowledge possessed by the Indians living in this area did not merit enough attention to stimulate the immigration of people for gold mining and collecting innumerable riches. This only succeeded in attracting the Russell brothers to lead an expedition and discover gold mines and the consequent rush to the Pikes Peak region in 1858. It cannot be put into words the impact that this rush created and the role it played in hastening the development of the state. This information is heavily derived and known from the manuscript of James H. Pierce, a member of the expedition under William Green Russell to Cherry Creek in 1858, archived in the files of the State Historical and Natural History Society of Colorado.
About Gilpin Country-
This county was one of the original 17 counties that were included in Colorado Territory in 1861. It was named in honor of William Gilpin, the 1st governor of Colorado Territory. It lies in the north-central part of the State.
The first permanent White settlement of this region began during the Rush of 1859. John H. Gregory, a miner who was travelling from Georgia to California, stopped in Colorado and made the first gold discovery here. He waited until the next spring to put forward his claim in what came to be known as Gregory Gulch. By the summer of 1859, the area was named as 'Gregory’s Diggings', and thousands of miners traveled there in an attempt to make their fortunes.
Responsible Mining Solutions for an ethical and sustainable Process-
Responsible Mining Solutions (RMS) are practices and policies executed during any development process that employ sustainable, ethical and environmental-friendly methods of interacting with the Nature and people inhabiting the region. The process of mining includes heavy technology and has the potential to cause unimaginable and irreversible loss to the environment as well as to human and animal life. It can cause dangerous contamination of water, air and land, leading to health hazards if left unchecked.
RMS during mining processes include measures such as reducing water and energy consumption, minimizing land disturbance and waste production, preventing soil, water, and air pollution at mine sites, and conducting successful mine closure and reclamation activities. These also include fair compensation and resources for rehabilitation to the displaced populace, without laying the sole focus on profit generation. Labor should be reimbursed fairly maintaining the rules of 'minimum wages' and health and other facilities.