When was gold discovered in Guyana and how did it affect the colony?

Gold was discovered in the colony of British Guiana in 1879. This discovery inaugurated the exploitation of mineral resources in the region, which have since become a dominant industry for the country.12

The subsequent gold boom in the 1890s provided a significant boost to the colony's economy. This development was particularly impactful as it occurred during a period of serious economic depression caused by competition with European sugar beet production, which had previously strained the colony's plantation-based economy. Additionally, the presence of gold-rich territory contributed to geopolitical tensions, specifically regarding the border with Venezuela, as the area became a subject of international dispute in the late 19th century.1