Gold mining is a process of extracting gold from the earth. It refers to the techniques used to extract gold from the ground. When we think of gold mining, the first words that come to mind are exploration, extraction, and prospecting. However, there are other synonyms we can use to describe gold mining. These include mineral extraction, gold panning, placer mining, lode mining, and sluicing. Mineral extraction refers to the removal of minerals, including gold, from the earth. Gold panning is the process of using a pan to separate gold from other materials. Placer mining involves using water to separate gold from soil and rocks. Lode mining involves searching for gold veins within rocks, and sluicing is the use of a sluice box to trap gold particles.