Final answer:
Humans extract gold and other natural resources from the Earth's crust, where historical methods like panning and tunnel mining have evolved into modern scientific techniques. Extractive industries such as mining are fundamental to the economies of some countries that hold rich mineral deposits.
Step-by-step explanation:
Humans mine for gold and other natural resources within the Earth's crust. Historically, this has involved digging shallow holes, or creating tunnels and shafts in areas where large deposits of gold were likely to be found, such as near stream beds, under layers of gravel and clay, or in the mountainous areas where gold veins exist.
Today, however, mining for gold often involves more scientific methods, though small-scale family-based mining is still practiced in some regions. The Earth provides various valuable resources through such extractive industries, which can significantly impact local and national economies. Notably, some countries have been able to accumulate wealth by extracting minerals like diamonds, coal, and the aforementioned gold due to the rich deposits found in their land.