Gold On Track To Become Official Mineral Of North Carolina

There isn't much of a gold-mining presence in North Carolina now, but that state was the first host of the first American gold rush two centuries ago. In honour of that initiality, the state Senate has voted to make gold North Carolina's official mineral.

"North Carolina became the nation's first gold producing state and was the only gold producing state from 1803 until 1828. North Carolina was the leading producer of gold until 1848 when gold was discovered in California," said [state Senator Harry] Brown.

That same state was the host of the first authenticated discovery of gold in the U.S., in 1799. The House has yet to vote on the bill.