Conglomerate was mined in the past using hand tools such as picks, shovels, and hammers. Miners would work in small groups or individually to break up the conglomerate rocks and extract the valuable minerals such as gold, iron, and copper. The process involved breaking the rocks into smaller pieces using hammers and chisels and then washing the material in streams or rivers to separate the minerals from the rock debris. Hydraulic mining techniques were also used in some areas, where high-pressure water jets were used to break up the rocks and wash away the sediment. However, this method was very damaging to the environment and was eventually banned due to its negative impact on rivers and water sources.