A hundred or so years ago the discovery of gold somewhere in the ânewâ world triggered a new disease of the mind. Thousands of men (and some women) left where ever they were and raced off to join in a frantic search for gold. The gold seekers often risked everything â including their lives in the search for gold. Over the 19th Century major gold rushes took place across the world in Australia, Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States. In each place, the gold frenzy lasted a few years or maybe more and then faded away. Once the gold ran out or better prospects were found elsewhere, the settlements or towns built for the gold miners were abandoned, leaving little to show for the wealth that had been found in that location. Â