Treasure Hunting in Colorado - Read or Post a Message / Question Colorado Metal Detecting Clubs - On Lost Treasure Online©!
|
|
Centennial State
GOLD Gold was first discovered in Arapahoe County on Cherry Creek where it meets the South Platte River in 1859. Since then, more than 40 million troy ounces have been recovered. Placer Deposits A placer deposit is a concentration of a natural material that has accumulated in unconsolidated sediments of a stream bed, beach, or residual deposit. Gold derived by weathering or other process from lode deposits is likely to accumulate in placer deposits because of its weight and resistance to corrosion. In addition, its characteristically sun-yellow color makes it easily and quickly recognizable even in very small quantities. The
gold pan or miner's pan is a shallow sheet-iron vessel with sloping sides
and flat bottom used to wash gold-bearing gravel or other material
containing heavy minerals. The process of washing material in a pan,
referred to as "panning," is the simplest, most commonly used,
and least expensive method for a prospector to separate gold from the
silt, sand, and gravel of the stream deposits. It is a tedious,
back-breaking job and only with practice does one become proficient in the
operation. Thankfully, technology finally caught up with our gold fever
and brought us metal detectors! Most of the state's gold is in a mineral belt extending SW from central Boulder County through Chaffee and Gunnison Counties. Placer nuggets are found downstream from many mining districts in the belt. Most placers come from North Clear Creek west of Denver, Breckenridge, Alma and Fairplay, and Leadville. Large dredges were used in these areas during the peak activity in the 1930's, but there certainly ample gold left - because hobbyists find it every weekend. The richest and most productive placer gravels are in the Northeast portion of the mineral belt. Try both the BLM & the National Forest Service for good leads and more information including maps and regulations in this area. You can always ask for permission to hunt on any private property, but there is lots of public land where you can pan and metal detect. As always, please respect other's claims. Here are a few of the numerous Public Access Areas. I couldn't find out any more information such as equipment use restrictions or what government agencies actually own this particular land though.
GEMS Faceting-grade spessartite garnets can be found in the gas cavities in the rhyolite flow on Ruby Mountain near Nathrop, Chaffee County. Large specimen-grade garnets are available at the abandoned Salida Copper Mine. Colorado and Utah also have deposits of fine quality jasper, agate, petrified wood, and agatized dinosaur bone. These deposits are found over a large area of both States and on both sides of the continental divide in Colorado. Light yellow colored stones are cut from apatite recovered from a deposit in Eagle County. Large fine-quality colorless stones are cut from barite from nodules found in Mesa County and fine-quality, blue colored stones are cut from barite found in Weld County. Some colorless stones have been cut from phenakite from White Mountain and Mount Antero in Chaffee County. The finest-quality, bright red colored facet-grade rhodochrosite is found in Park County. Deposits in the State also produce fine-quality, facet-grade sphalerite. Turquoise is produced from several locations in Colorado. Currently the only commercial production is near Manassa, Conejos County. Other production was from Leadville, Lake County; near Colorado Springs, El Paso County; and near Villa Grove, Saguache County. COINS, JEWELRY, & RELICS Colorado offers many incredible opportunities. If this is your interest, here's a few ideas to get you started:
LOST TREASURE As in other areas of the US, there are
several tales of lost treasure in Colorado concerning caches buried for safety. In many of these stories,
people either died or forgot where they buried the stash.
Contributing factors include: 2. Distrust of banks during the Great Depression.
These excerpts are a sampling from American Coin Treasures and Hoards |
|
|
|
References to Find More Treasure in Colorado
Colorado Metal Detecting & Prospecting Websites
|
|
Back to How & Where to Find Treasure Treasurefish HOME
Information posted is from various United States Geologic Service (USGS)
material and the Gold Prospectors Association of America ( GPAA) Mining
Guide. The GPAA is a professional, family oriented organization
that's been around for awhile and they'll treat you right. There's
many more areas to find gold than what's listed above. If you are
serious about finding gold, we recommend that you check out your local
club to learn the proper techniques and some good spots to hunt from the
pros. The only alternative is to spend a whole lot of money on gas
and wasting valuable time doing your own thing. For more
information, Click Here |
© 2000-2003 Treasurefish.com Security & Privacy
.
