This is a report on the work being done at Table Mountain from 1867. And there really was a river of Gold underneath the lava at table mountain. Today's geologic studies will tell you the the lava flowed down the ancient river bed, covering the golden gravels and preserving them in place. Over time the rest of the landscape eroded and left table mountain. They took a lot of gold from the riverbed beneath table mountain!

From: "Reports Upon Mineral Resources of the United States", GPO 1867.