Gold was the first metal to be sought by man; it was easy to work and, at first, was used only as an ornament. [1] They traveled far and wide in search of flint, much as present-day humans journey to the ends of the earth in quest of gold, platinum, and diamonds. [2] Gold was the product of lava flows in Sierras. [3] Every creature child may truly say: “He knows the way I take, and when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”. [4]