In 1848, carpenter James W. Marshall was assisting in the construction of a sawmill in Coloma, California, when he unexpectedly stumbled upon something unusual in a nearby stream—small flecks of “bright yet malleable” metal. After conducting some tests, Marshall quickly identified the substance as our block of the week—gold ore.
Word spread rapidly, and soon all able-bodied individuals in the area abandoned their lives to pursue gold. An influx of fortune seekers—around 300,000 people—ultimately forced the native Californians off their land, leading them into slavery, disease, and starvation. However, the impact on California was transformative—the state transitioned from impoverished and sparsely populated settlements to earning a global reputation as the “Golden State” within just a few years.
Some miners during the “Gold Rush” managed to amass vast fortunes, but most did not find success. On average, only about half turned a profit. Instead, real wealth was generated by traders who provided various services to the miners. Food, tailoring, and laundry services were in high demand. Among the successful merchants was a German-American named Levi Strauss, who invented the style of “riveted denim pants,” which we now know as “jeans.”
As for Marshall, the man who ignited the Gold Rush, his fate was less fortunate. After completing the sawmill, he was compelled to leave the land due to the influx of prospectors and departed the area. He established a vineyard that failed within a decade and later became a partner in a venture involving gold ore, which yielded nothing and left him bankrupt. He passed away in 1885 in a small cabin with no money to his name.
We should discuss Minecraft Pocket Edition, right? That’s my job. So, gold ore undoubtedly brings pleasant thoughts. It has been part of MCPE for quite some time—it was added early in the development of Minecraft PE, alongside sand, logs, and last week’s block—gravel.
Gold ore is typically found in veins of 4-8 blocks deep in the lower regions of the map, making it relatively rare in Minecraft PE. However, you will have an easier time locating it if you go mining in a mesa biome, much like the Californian prospectors did.
Once you locate some gold ore, you’ll need iron or diamond tools to mine it; otherwise, it will break into useless tiny pieces. You can then smelt it into gold ingots using a furnace. What… well, let’s just say that gold in Minecraft Pocket Edition isn’t nearly as valuable as gold in real life. Primarily, it’s used for decorative purposes.
And that’s fine because otherwise, you’d also experience a gold rush. And if we’ve learned anything from James Marshall, that would be very unfortunate.
