ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Quartz reef mining

Quartz reef mining is like digging for treasure, but instead of looking for chests of gold or jewels in the sand, people dig for rocks. The rocks they are searching for are called quartz reefs, and they are found deep underground. Quartz is a type of mineral that is very hard and shiny, and when it is found in a vein or a reef, it can contain gold which is considered valuable.

To get to the quartz reef, miners dig tunnels underground, and they use tools like pickaxes, shovels, and drills to break through dirt and rock. Once they find the quartz reef, they use explosives to break the rock apart and extract the quartz out of the reef.

The miners bring the quartz up to the surface where it is crushed into small pieces and then washed with water. This separates the gold from the quartz. Once the gold is separated, it is melted down into bars or coins and sold.

Quartz reef mining was a very dangerous job because the miners worked underground where it was dark and dusty. There was also the risk of the tunnel collapsing, which could trap or injure the miners. Many men lost their lives working in the mines, and it was hard work that required strength and skill.

But despite the dangers and hard work, quartz reef mining was an important part of many countries' economies. It provided jobs for many people, and the gold that was extracted was used to make coins and other valuable items.