gold mine

American  

noun

1. a mine yielding gold.

2. a source of great wealth or profit, or any desirable thing.

3. a copious source or reserve of something required.

   a gold mine of information about antiques.

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gold mine British  

noun

1. a place where gold ore is mined

2. a source of great wealth, profit, etc

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gold mine Idioms  

1. A rich, plentiful source of wealth or some other desirable thing, as in That business proved to be a gold mine, or She's a gold mine of information about the industry. [First half of 1800s]

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Other Word Forms

• gold-miner noun
• gold-mining noun

Etymology

Origin of gold mine

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75

Example Sentences

Are the Dodgers baseball’s version of a gold mine?

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

There are currently only two operational mines on the island -- one gold mine in the south, and one for anorthosite, a rock containing titanium, on the west coast.

From Barron's • Feb. 14, 2026

Now, the site has been transformed into South Africa’s first new underground gold mine in more than 15 years, part of a global rush to boost production of a metal trading at record prices.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 27, 2026

“We are on a gold mine; we can produce enough oil to supply ourselves,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 13, 2026

Barren and pock-marked, all dirt and no trees, fenced in all sides, a gold mine resembles a war-torn battlefield.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela