What causes the abundance of gold in California?

Tectonic Plates

it is what it is

The ocean

Weathering

and erosion of rocks

The formation of the Sierra Nevada mountain range during the Cretaceous period resulted in the accumulation of sediment and rock formations rich in gold. As tectonic plates moved and collided, these formations were uplifted and exposed to weathering and erosion, which further concentrated the gold deposits. Additionally, the presence of the ocean provided ideal conditions for the deposition and concentration of gold-rich sediments. These geological processes, along with human activity such as the California Gold Rush, have contributed to the abundance of gold in California.