Well, we'll have to go back to the Bronze Age I think. Mining has been very important to humans in different areas of the world for milleniums rather than just centuries. Certainly there is evidence from the ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks all engaged in Mining and I'm sure if enough historical investigation was made around the world, evidence of mining would be uncoveed anywheere where there were spaces.Minerals are one of the riches of our earth and this has been known since time was recorded.
