Page 65 - Handbook of Gold Exploration and Evaluation

46 Handbook of gold exploration and evaluation

its metallurgical achievements from others. Museum pieces in the two museums
at Tonglushan in Hubei Province are evidence of a scale and development of
copper mining that far surpasses technologies developed anywhere else at that
time in the ancient world.
In Geology and other Earth Sciences, Shen Kua (AD 1086) outlined principles
of erosion, uplift and sedimentation in his Dream Pool Essays that form the
basis of modern Earth Science. In these essays, Shen Kua refers to a magnetic
compass for navigation. Indeed, the world's first magnetic compass was made in
China 2,200 years ago. A model of the original device now in the Beijing
Museum, comprises a spoon carved from magnetic rock placed upon a bronze
plate. If moved, the spoon always returns to a south pointing position. The first
known reference to such navigational aids in Europe is made in De Naturus
Rerum, published by Alexander Necham near the end of the 12th century.
Recent major contributions to an understanding of China's scientific develop-
ment are found in two publications: Science and Civilisation in China written
largely by Sir Joseph Needham, Cambridge University, and Metallurgical
Remains of Ancient China by Noel Barnard, Australian National University, and
Professor Sato Tamotsu of Tokyo.
In 1284, Venice introduced the gold `Ducat', which remained as the most
popular coin in the world for the next five centuries or so. The first major gold
coin the `Florin' was issued in Great Britain followed by the `Noble', the
`Angel' and the `Guinea'. The Black Death killed between one-third and one-
half of the Western World population and plunged Europe into another deep
depression in the 14th century. Lasting for about 100 years the disease finally
died out bringing to a close about 1,000 years of virtual unenlightenment in the
Western World.

1.2.5 Renaissance and the New World
Renaissance (14th±17th centuries) marked the transition from medieval to
modern times. It was a period of renewed interest in many fields of learning
including geology. It began as a reaction to the massive depletion of Europe's
population by the Black Death and flourished in Western Europe until about
the 17th century. The survivors looked for new ideas and ways of com-
pensating for lack of manpower. They also sought to enlarge the boundaries of
learning, and global exploration was encouraged. Fresh ideas came from the
release of scientific literature when Constantinople was threatened and finally
fell to the Turks in 1453. Columbus reached America in 1492; Vasco da Gama
sailed to India around the Cape of Good Hope in 1498 and Luther started the
Protestant Reformation in 1517 by nailing his 95 Theses to the church door in
Wittenberg.
The explorer Christopher Columbus (1451±1506) made four voyages to the
New World, noting amongst other important observations, changes in the