The gold deposits of the Andes are considered to be among the richest in the world in terms of gold production. Pre-Columbian civilizations including the Maya, Inca, and Chimu exploited these mines on a large scale to extract gold. Andean gold mines were located in the Andes mountains at high altitudes, which made mining difficult and dangerous. Miners used rudimentary techniques such as picks and shovels to extract gold from auriferous veins.
