Final answer:
Option a)Increased demand for gold, rising gold prices, and government incentives were some of the factors contributing to the gold mining boom in the 1990s.
Step-by-step explanation:
The factors contributing to the gold mining boom in the 1990s, according to McCarthy, were a)increased demand for gold, rising gold prices, and government incentives.
These factors created a favorable environment for gold mining and attracted investment in the industry. With the increased demand and rising prices, mining companies were motivated to expand their operations, leading to a boom in gold mining during that period.