Gold Mine Ore Washing Illustration
Gold Mine Ore Washing Illustration
At a gold mine, the excavated ore is crushed, ground in a stone mill, pounded in a mortar, poured onto a 'nekoda-nagashi' (sluice), and then shaken on a board. These workers do not receive wages; instead, they make their living by collecting the gold dust that clings to their clothing.
In the past, there was something called 'toji-gane,' where gold would appear in a single solid lump, but that is extremely rare now, and only ore remains. The saying from ancient times that 'gold flowers bloom on the mountains of Michinoku' likely refers to this 'toji-gane'.
* In the table of contents of the National Diet Library Digital Collection, it is written as 'Kinzan Tōhō no E' (Illustration of Gold Mine Washing Methods), but here I have read it as 'Kinzan Tōta E' (Gold Mine Ore Washing Illustration).
* 'Haku-ishi' refers to ore.
* 'Nekoda-nagashi' is a method of refining gold, silver, and other metals. It involves pouring finely crushed ore over bleached cotton or a 'nekoda' (a large mat woven from straw or rope) laid on a board, and collecting the gold or silver particles that remain caught in the mesh.
Pounding it in a mortar and pouring it onto the nekoda-nagashi
Shaking it on a board
Click here for the table of contents of 'Nihon Sankai Meibutsu Zue' → 'Nihon Sankai Meibutsu Zue Summary'👀
Author's Note: ● represents a character that could not be deciphered.
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