Kwathi kuba ezi-metals bezisoloko zesebanza njengemali ixesha elide, abantu abaninzi baacinga okokuba ukufumana i-metal iindlela yokutyeba. Abamaninzi amaxesha apho igolide yathi yafumaneka baza abantu babasha ngokukhawuleza ngobuninzi babo bafudukela kwezo ndawo ifumaneka kuzo, umzekelo, kwincakam nakumZantsi Melika emva komnyaka we-1500, nakwezinye iindawo emva komnyaka we-1800 (e-United States of America, e-Canada, e-Australia, e-New Zealand anaseMzantsi Afrika). ezi ziindawo ezisoloko zibizwa ngokuba zii-Gold Rushes.