Golden Legends Tales of Buried Treasure

 Is Gold Real? The World Gold Council estimates that miners have historically extracted a total of 201,296 tons of gold, leaving another 53,000 tons left in identified underground reserves. -from  https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/chart-how-much-gold-is-in-the-world/#Where%20Is%20All%20The%20Gold? Here is a breakdown: Jewlery ~96,487t, 45% Bars and coins (including gold backed ETFs) ~47,454t, 22% Central banks ~36,699t, 17% Other ~31,943t, 15% from-  https://www.gold.org/goldhub/data/how-much-gold#:~:text=1%20Jewellery%20~96%2C487t%2C%2045%25%202%20Bars%20and%20coins,4%20Other%20~31%2C943t%2C%2015%25%205%20Proven%20reserves%20~59%2C000t Yes. Gold has superb electrical conductivity. It is corrosion resistant. It has malleability and ductility. It is thermally conductive. It is reflective. It is non-toxic. In the realm of consumer electronics, gold is indispensable. Its superior electrical conductivity, resistance to corrosion, and excellent ductility make it an ideal mat...

This is just an FYI. I have a new video about how to make a walking stick out of desert spoon stalks. You might be interested, as they turn out pretty good-looking. DIY Arizona Desert Spoon Walking Sticks - YouTube How to Grow and Care for Desert Spoon (thespruce.com) desert spoons

A treaty in 1868, The Fort Laramie Treaty, made the Black Hills a part of the Sioux Reservation. It was believed that the Dakota Territory required a fort, and the Black Hills was to be the location. Army brass and government officials planned for an expedition to reconnoiter the area.  In 1874, George Armstrong Custer led his Black Hills expedition with nearly 1000 civilians and soldiers, many wagons and mules, along with 700 horses and a large herd of cattle, into the hills from Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory. First account of gold related to George Custer's exploits- On July 30, 1874, a miner who was part of the expedition, Horatio Ross, panned in French Creek. He washed some pay dirt and found several specks (micros) of gold. While he did this, Custer Climbed Harney Peak. While gone, the officers drank champaign after an enlisted game of baseball. Harney Peak, now called Black Elk Peak, is 7244 feet high and is accessible by several trails.  A second account o...

According to legend, tons of wealth have been hidden close to an unidentified peak in southeast Arizona that the people who first hid it there called Davis Mountain. This sizable stash was taken from a train carrying smugglers coming from Mexico. But the original loot was taken from a chapel in Matamoras, Mexico, and a bank vault in Monterey. The treasure comprised a cigar box full of diamonds, two sculpture statues of pure gold — one of the Virgin Mary and one of Jesus, sacks of gold and silver, thirty-nine bars of solid gold bullion, and multiple rawhide bags containing ninety thousand Mexican dollars. It is fitting that criminals plundered the bandit smuggler train during its journey through Skeleton Canyon. Following a robbery, fittingly, the bandit smuggler train was robbed by outlaws while going through Skeleton Canyon. The bandits dug up the treasure on Davis Mountain after plundering the smuggling train.  Despite the fact that no modern map of Arizona shows this peak, one o...

South of Tucson, Arizona lies the site of the "Lost Opata Silver Mine." The Catholic Church decided to actively convert Opata and Papago Indians in the 18th century. The Tumacacori Mission 45 miles south of Tucson was the conversion center. Then in 1766, religiosity morphed somewhat to mining a silver deposit. Several mines in the area provided silver for the Spanish crown. One mine was a storage place for the silver, and in a giant room was stacked silver. This mine was the Indians' preferred mine to work. Performing pagan rituals at night in this underground room by reflected candlelight, the Opata Indians believed they had encountered the Virgin Mary in the form of an Indian princess. The silver reflected the light in different ways by candle.  The Indians believed there was a second coming. The princess was kidnapped - their knowledge of the holy family led them to making a bargain. I she would marry the chief to produce a child savior, she could live. Her refusal pro...

Congress, Arizona in 1914 Chuck Stanton's home If it's quantity of gold nuggets and size of gold nuggets you are interested in, Rich Hill, Arizona is the place to be. High karat gold has been produced there for 100 years. It isn't just locals who love the Rich Hill. People from all over the United States and the globe come to Rich Hill seeking to find gold flakes in their pans. You can see them also using dry washers at the bottom of gulches in arroyos or metal detecting the hills. The area covers approximately 52 square miles. Antelope and Weaver creeks have been rich placer spots. North of Stanton all the way to Yarnell have seen their share of hot lode spots. Lodes of historical consequence include the Octave mine, Beehive Mine, and the Dixie-Rincon. Nearly all of this area is claimed due to its past and present richness. It is important to know who owns the land. It is divvied up among private and public entities. Homesteads, placer claims, and lode claims (350) pepper ...

 I've tried to provide a lot of ideas for homemade prospecting equipment over the years. Today I found a video with great ideas for gold pans. In fact, this has to be the best presentation on the subject I have found. You should treat yourself to this channel and learn the who, what, where and how of gold pans. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmn67wOWGBA&t=295s