WI: Antarctic gold rush.

Exploration of Antarctica takes place earlier, some Antarctic explorer discovers gold in Antarctica. Seasonal towns are founded to mine the gold durring the summer months. This might be pushing it. But what if this did happen?
 
I could see it if there's gold on that big peninsula. I hear it's barely inhabitable without special equipment. We'd probably see whatever country has the most prospectors in the area trying to lay claim, Argentina would almost certainly lay claim as well. Not sure what after that. If the prospectors are a heterogenous enough group, maybe they'd try for independence. On the other hand, if several nations are competing, the area could become an international zone, or partitioned amongst the most interested nations.

For a stupid thought, maybe someone would try to use Inuits as slaves.
 
I could see it if there's gold on that big peninsula. I hear it's barely inhabitable without special equipment. We'd probably see whatever country has the most prospectors in the area trying to lay claim, Argentina would almost certainly lay claim as well. Not sure what after that. If the prospectors are a heterogenous enough group, maybe they'd try for independence. On the other hand, if several nations are competing, the area could become an international zone, or partitioned amongst the most interested nations.

For a stupid thought, maybe someone would try to use Inuits as slaves.
you missed my last NG brfore NG:FE. lol. anyway. the reason why the antarctic treaty of 197X is in effect is BECAUSE there are a decent sized amount of resources in Antarctica.
 
you missed my last NG brfore NG:FE. lol. anyway. the reason why the antarctic treaty of 197X is in effect is BECAUSE there are a decent sized amount of resources in Antarctica.
Who'd have thought there'd be mineral resourses on a continent?;)
 
you missed my last NG brfore NG:FE. lol. anyway. the reason why the antarctic treaty of 197X is in effect is BECAUSE there are a decent sized amount of resources in Antarctica.

I didn't mean resources on the whole continent, i meant on the big peninsula that sticks way up towards South America. The one that I refuse to believe is called the Antarctic Peninsula. It stands to reason that that area would be a bit warmer than the rest of Antarctica. Resources could be scarce in that area and plentiful elsewhere. Uh, what's NG?
 
Who'd have thought there'd be mineral resourses on a continent?;)
i know right!

I didn't mean resources on the whole continent, i meant on the big peninsula that sticks way up towards South America. The one that I refuse to believe is called the Antarctic Peninsula. It stands to reason that that area would be a bit warmer than the rest of Antarctica. Resources could be scarce in that area and plentiful elsewhere. Uh, what's NG?
there is a large amount of gold on the Kodiak Peninsula. the Antarctica Peninsula could have it too. NG is short for Nations Game. sharedworlds
 
Urgh, Captain Scott and his Siberian ponies are a good indicator of how methods from the far North mightn't work so well on the Antarctic.

Interesting fact--it's barely a century since man is first recorded setting foot on the continent. Just a few years before Kittyhawk.



Postscript: By 'few years' I really mean about 60/80ish. Same distance in time from the Wrights as the moonlanding is. Big picture stuff, right?
 
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How far back do you have this happen? If it's after 1807 or thereabouts both the USN and the Royal Navy would be on the prowl for slave ships.
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Yeah. There might be a way to might be a way to make it look acceptable, but.
 
Odds are there is plenty of gold, iron, and other useful minerals and resources on the continent.

Unfortunately it's all beneath several miles of ice.
 
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