Who took over mining operations after the first rush?

After the initial gold rush, mining operations were often taken over by larger mining companies and corporations that had the resources and technology to extract minerals more efficiently. These companies often consolidated smaller claims and employed more sophisticated methods, such as hydraulic mining and deep shaft mining. Additionally, some independent miners formed partnerships or cooperatives to pool their resources, but the trend shifted towards industrialization in the mining sector. This transition allowed for larger scale operations and increased production, but often at the expense of individual prospectors.