As shown on the History Channel, "How the Earth Was Made: America's Gold" examines how gold formed in space and became concentrated in the United States through major geologic processes. The episode explains placer deposits in rivers, quartz veins in California’s mountain belts, hot-spring gold and silver systems in Nevada, and invisible Carlin-type deposits in limestone altered by acidic fluids. Key concepts include supernovas, plate tectonics, erosion, river deposition, quartz, volcanic activity, hydrothermal fluids, mineral concentration, and geologic evidence used in mining exploration. It also connects the California Gold Rush and Nevada discoveries to Earth science and U.S. history, showing how geologists use observation, sampling, chemistry, and mapping technology to locate mineral resources. The content aligns strongly with curricula in geology, Earth processes, natural resources, and scientific inquiry. Part of the "How the Earth Was Made" series.