Florida Getting Tougher for Treasure Hunters

Screwing Up a Good Thing

Leave it to bureaucracies to screw up a good thing. In the State of Florida, treasure hunters and sunken wreck salvors are up in arms over new regulations proposed by the state in October 2008. These regulations will adversely impact treasure hunting and treasure salving operations off the coast in both deep and shallow waters.

The new regulations have been proposed as amendments to the Florida Administrative Code and require permits for diving on, exploring, and salvaging historic shipwrecks on "state-controlled submerged lands." The new permits replace the current contract-award system for salvaging shipwreck sites.

"A Railroad Job"

Treasure hunters in Florida and across the southeastern United States consider the state's actions a "railroad job," both in terms of the rules and the so-called hearing process, including the location of the hearings which were held in Guana, a good distance from the base of operations of many salvors working the Florida Keys. Many prominent treasure salvors and treasure hunting organizations expressed their anger and dismay to the state, but with little apparent impact.

Each Operation Requires a Qualified Archaeologist

The new requirement that a qualified archaeologist be present during all recoveries and excavations puts a very large burden on most treasure salvors since that requirement alone will cost them between $300-$600 a day. Under the old rules and regulations, treasure hunters and salvors stopped working when they began uncovering historical artifacts and notified the state. Then the State of Florida would send one of its own archaeologists out to record and survey the site. The old system had been in place since 1987.

Fighting Back

One good thing that has emerged from all this bureaucratic BS is that the treasure hunting community in Florida has banded together as one to fight back against what is perceived as a direct attack on the ability of treasure salvors in the state to make a decent living. In recent years, both the gold mining and the treasure hunting communities have seen ever more restrictive regulations passed as counties, states, the Feds, and environmentalist activists (a.k.a "whack jobs") pushed their agendas forward at our own cost and sacrifice. So, we all need to fight back when and where we can.

Otherwise I fear the day will come when we are all prohibited from doing what we love...

Be safe, take heart, and good hunting.

If you liked this post, you may want to read: "Recent 'Big Money' Treasure Finds"

http://treasuretrovegold.blogspot.com/2008/11/big-money-treasure-finds-of-2008.html

(c) J.R. 2008

Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com

Ohio's Lost French Gold Hoard

(Carroll County, Ohio.)

There is reason to believe that a large hoard of gold and silver may still lie untouched beneath the earth in Carroll County, Ohio. Known alternately as the Great Trail Treasure (due to a much-traveled historic trail that crosses the County) or the Lost French Gold Hoard, no one to date has been able to locate the treasure, if indeed it exists (the jury is still out on that one....).

Legend of the Lost French Gold Hoard

The legend begins in the mid-1700s when the French and the English were at each others' throats during an interesting and often savage little conflict known as the French and Indian Wars. The conflict was not about gold and silver per se, but about who would ultimately control the colonies and nearby unexplored regions of eastern North America.


Anticipating an upcoming battle with the English, the French garrison commander at Fort Duquesne (now part of downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) detached an escort of 10 soldiers to accompany a 16-horse pack train carrying gold and silver bullion and specie from Fort Duquesne to Fort Detroit (now known, as you rightly surmised, as "Motown"). The men were told by their commander that if attacked or threatened along the way by the English, that they were to bury the gold and silver, and record conspicuous landmarks so that the hoard could be recovered later.

Carhartt Wear

After several days on the trail a soldier of the French escort spotted what appeared to be an advanced guard of English soldiers and gave warning. The members of the French escort moved quickly to unload the pack horses, bury the loot, and record the location of the stash. Not long afterward, the English attacked and 8 Frenchman were killed, leaving only 2 to escape. Subsequently in 1829, a nephew of one of the 2 surviving Frenchman made an unsuccessful search for the lost hoard after finding clues to its whereabouts among his late uncle's papers.

Research Will Tell the Tale

Once again, thorough research will tell the tale on this lost treasure legend. Both the French and the English maintained fairly accurate records of their military campaigns in North America during the period. Additionally, if this treasure tale has true merit perhaps some mention of the lost gold and silver may be uncovered in French historical records.

Possible Leads

1) Most searches for the Lost French Gold Hoard have been conducted between East Rochester and Minerva, Ohio. Perhaps its time to look elsewhere in Carrol County or beyond.

Treasure Hunting

2) Landmarks associated with the treasure include 2 springs, a deer carved on a tree 1 mile east of the treasure trove, and a large rock locked into place in a tree branch.

3) "Triangulation" is the key approach to pinpointing the treasure once these "signs" have been located.

Good hunting out there!

If you liked this post, you may want to read: "Brother XII's Buried Treasure"

(c) J.R. 2008

Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com

Basic Treasure Hunting Equipment

(Fisher's "Gemini 3" 2-Box Deep Cache Detector.)

Here are a few items that should be included in the basic "outfit" of any serious treasure trove or cache hunter:

Primary use coin/relic metal detector from a major manufacturer. (This type of metal detector is the primary tool for novices and experts alike. Over time, it will probably be employed more than any other piece of gear in land-based searches.)

Back-up detector for the primary use machine. (Always have a back-up plan when treasure hunting. This holds true of some equipment items as well.)

Fresh and/or saltwater detector for working beaches and bodies of water. (Invariably some treasure trove searches will take you onto the beach or even into the water. In those situations you need a detector that can be partially or fully immersed, if necessary.)

Gold detector (These are machines specially designed and circuited for hunting natural gold such as ore and nuggets in the field. You can employ a pulse induction [PI] type or very high frequency [VHF] model. Both are extremely effective in their respective operating parameters.)

Metal Detectors
Treasure Hunting

Various coil sizes and configurations for the detectors listed above. (Some coil sizes and shapes work better than others in certain types of conditions.)

Deep cache detector. (More commonly known as a "2-box" or "double box," these detectors are musts for any serious deep cache hunter due to their ability to detect metallic objects to depths of 20 feet or more.)


Hand-held, global positioning system (GPS). (An absolute must when working remote locations or in determining the position of or recording potential treasure troves.)

Steel ground probes of varying lengths. (These can save some serious digging time in areas where softer ground prevails.)

Miscellaneous digging and hand tools. (These can include just about anything you deem helpful in treasure searches or recoveries.)

Miner's type hardhat and headlamp or hand-held "headlight." (If you're a serious treasure hunter sooner or later you'll probably enter a cave, old mine adit or shaft [though I don't recommend this due to the high danger factor], or something similar. That's where these items can prove their weight in gold. Well....almost.)

Incidentals. (Ooooh boy, you name it. First-aid kits, batteries, appropriate clothing, knee pads, gloves, insect repellent, spare gas cans, sunscreen, water and more water, camping gear, hats, food.....just go right ahead and let your imagination wander......)

How much is all this going to set you back? If you don't own any of this gear at present, quite a bit, sorry to say. But as the old saying goes, "it takes money to make money." True in finance and true in treasure hunting as well.

Good hunting!
 
(c) J.R. 2008

Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com

Spanish Silver and Gold in Cass County, Missouri?

(Cass County, Missouri.)

There may be a large hoard of Spanish silver and gold buried near Harrisonville in Cass County, Missouri. The County and Harrisonville, which can be found in the west-central part of the state, have long been the focus of a persistent treasure legend dating back to the 1800s.

Gold Pans

Nearly 11 Tons of Precious Metal

According to legend, sometime in 1772 a Spanish column was transiting the area carrying a large amount of gold and silver bullion. Here's a breakdown of the treasure being transported:

15 cargas (or loads) of gold with each carga weighing approximately 125 pounds

1,000 bars of pura plata or pure silver, each bar weighing about 20 pounds

Unless my math is a bit rusty, this would bring the total weight of the Spanish treasure to nearly 11 tons of precious metal, a substantial haul for any would-be treasure hunter. At today's metals prices the finder would be a very wealthy man or woman (if greedy landowners, the state, Feds, or lawyers didn't take it away first).

Metal Detectors

Fear, Buried Loot, and a Fly in the Ointment

While making their way a few miles north of Harrisonville, the Spaniards noticed Indians shadowing the column. Fearing the worst, the comandante halted his men and ordered the treasure buried nearby until the potential Indian threat had passed. This is where story grows cold because nothing much more is mentioned of the Spaniards in the treasure legend. What became of them is unknown at this point. Some say they were all subsequently killed while others suggest they abandoned the trove fearing for their lives. This poses a real "fly in the ointment" to me as far as the veracity of this tale is concerned.

Why? Here's why. The Spanish in the New World were, for the most part, very brave adventurers and soldiers. Just take a look at Cortez and Pizarro and their ability to take on the Aztecs and the Incas with abysmally small forces by comparison. Add this to the well-known fact that the Spanish were quite jealous of their gold and silver, and were extremely reluctant to give it up easily, let alone walk away from it. Hostile Indian threat or no Indian threat, it's unlikely they'd abandon such a rich amount of gold and silver.

3 Potential Leads

Despite the weakness of the story reagrding the Spaniards here are 3 potential leads that may bring new light to the entire issue:

1. The October 24, 1879 issue of the Cass County Courier-Times contains an article describing the treasure legend and its associated parameters. By researching this article and any others the Courier-Times (or other earlier or contemporary newspapers) published, additional information of value may be brought to the forefront.

2. During the 1930s a construction crew building a nearby bridge unearthed what appeared to be evidence of a battle long ago. Artifacts discovered ostensibly included parts of old weapons, armor, arrowheads, and even human remains (bones). A bit of research in local records or in the Cass County Times-Courier may shed additional light on the subject.

3. The Spanish were meticulous record keepers when it came their possessions in the New World. This includes not only land, but mines, and silver and gold coins and bullion. A bit of organized research into Spanish records of the day would undoubtedly tell you whether this column actually ever existed. A treasure trove and shipment as large as this one would not have been taken lightly by Spanish authorities and would have been carefully recorded and documented.

It's a judgment call of sorts, but there may be a vast treasure trove buried in Cass County, Missouri. Only good research will reveal the truth. Are you up to the task?

Good hunting.

If you liked this post, you may want to read: "3 Key Tips for Successful Treasure Hunters"

http://treasuretrovegold.blogspot.com/2008/11/3-key-tips-for-successful-treasure.html

(c) J.R. 2008

Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com

Recent "Big Money" Treasure Finds

(Encrusted gold chalice from the wreck of the Santa Margarita.)

The past few years, including 2008, have been good times for many treasure hunters throughout the world. Here are just a few of their more spectacular, "big money" finds:

Golden Chalice Found off the Florida Keys

In the early summer of 2008, a diver working for Blue Water Ventures on the wreck site of the Spanish galleon Santa Margarita, recovered a golden chalice buried in 12 inches of sand at a depth of 18 feet off the Florida Keys. The chalice, made of solid gold and ornately inscribed, is expected to bring more than $1,000,000 at auction.

Metal Detectors

Amateur Treasure Hunter Hits it Big

A trove of over 100 silver and gold coins minted in the 1st Century, B.C. has been found by a metal detector hobbyist in the Netherlands near Maastricht. This lucky soul found 11 coins himself and then other hunters and archaeologists were able to recover the rest of the trove dating from Roman times after the finder notified city authorities of his discovery (note: here's a case where keeping your mouth shut can be important. However, the finder is obviously value-driven and understands the historic value of his find). The total value of the coin hoard is about $225,000.

Spectacular Mexican Placer Nugget Found

In a series of dry arroyos and canyons just 70 miles south of the Arizona border, a Mexican nugget hunter armed with a metal detector has been recovering small placer gold nuggets for years. A few years back he finally hit the "big one." Working a new area he had previously gridded out, he began carefully covering the ground with his Radio Shack detector (so much for Minelabs, Gold Bug IIs, and Goldmasters right?).

A huge signal filled his earphones and suspecting trash, our Mexican treasure hunter instead unearthed a spectacular placer gold nugget shaped like a boot and weighing a whopping 389.4 troy ounces (32.4 troy pounds). The newly named "Boot of Cortez" nugget is the largest surviving placer gold nugget in the Western Hemisphere. It's value? $1,324,000 at a recent auction.

Costplustools

Louisiana Steamship Treasure

Long hours of research and hard work has paid off for a small group of Louisiana treasure hunters who located the site of the sunken steamship S.S. New York in 60 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico. A growing treasure trove of mint or uncirculated condition gold and silver U.S. coins, many of them from private mints, has been recovered thus far. The estimated value of the treasure trove is incalculable at this point, since the rarity and condition of individual coins may bring $50,000-$100,000 each. Wow! That's big money all right.

Detectorist Hits the Jackpot in England

A small-scale treasure hunter and detectorist near Nottinghamshire, England hit the jackpot when his machine sounded off on a solid gold Anglo-Saxon cross from the 7th Century. The hand-made piece of religious jewelry also contains red semi-precious stones. The estimated value of the cross is around $35,000, but its value may soar due to its unique historical importance.

There you have it. If you ever doubted that lost treasures exist out there, now you know better.

Good hunting to all.

If you liked this post, you may want to read: "Legends of Lost Gold: Pegleg's Gold Found? (Part 1)"

http://treasuretrovegold.blogspot.com/2008/10/legends-of-lost-gold-peglegs-gold-found.html

(c) J.R. 2008

Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com

Small Treasures: "Posthole Banks"

(Depression-era homestead.)

Not All Treasures Are Large

Not all lost treasures involve large amounts of gold and silver coins, or hidden canyons full of placer gold nuggets as large as hen's eggs. No, not at all. In fact, your odds of finding smaller treasures is much more likely.

It should come as no surprise to you that people have hidden, buried, or cached valuables since precious metals, coins, jewelry, and other important personal items and currency have been in existence. In countries like the United States, banks were not always readily available and in many instances they weren't trusted, even when they were.

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"Posthole Banks"

So if people did not always use banks what did they do with their small savings, emergency funds, or family heirloom jewelry? They hid them. Where and how? Sometimes in the most mundane of fashions like stuffing them under a mattress. But a much safer method was to employ what would one day become known as a "posthole bank." "Posthole banks" derived their name from the simple fact that many were buried (and recovered) at the base of fence-line posts.

Here's how it worked. An individual or family would place their meager savings (usually in the form of silver and/or gold coins, or jewelry) in a Mason, Bell, or Kerr canning jar, seal the zinc lid, and then bury the "bank" at a safe depth at the base of a specially selected fence-line post on their farm, ranch, or property. Then the bank's location would be noted or recorded for posterity as being at "the 12th post to the left of the horse corral" or something similar. The problem is, some people died, some people forgot, and some people moved on, leaving their "banks" unrecovered. (If you're interested in reading about an actual "posthole bank" recovery you can do so at the Western and Eastern Treasures magazine website. Here's the appropriate URL:

http://www.treasurenet.com/westeast/data/relichunter/robots/200011.htm.)

Other "Posthole Bank" Locations

Fence lines were not the only location where "posthole banks" were cached. Other locations included, but are not limited to:

- near unusual or significant rock or earth formations

- at the base of old or large trees

- inside the walls, attics, and basements of old cabins or homes

- in flower or vegetable gardens

- beneath flooring in old barns and outbuildings

- underneath outhouses

- behind picture or photograph frames (usually currency in these)

- at preselected locations along stone walls or foundations

The Heyday of "Posthole Banks"

Believe it or not, the heyday for "posthole banks" was during the Great Depression of the 1930s in the U.S. Yes, many people literally did not have 2 nickels to rub together at the time (my mother's family from Oklahoma for one) but just as many did have that and even a bit more. Since people at the time had seen the country's financial institutions collapse (sound familiar?), they were fearful of banks and began hoarding and stashing their small savings around the old homestead.

What can you expect to find in a "posthole bank" if you recover one? It depends. In smaller ones just a few dollars in silver coins, nickels, and pennies. In larger ones silver dollars, 5, 10, and 20-dollar gold pieces, or family heirloom jewelry worth thousands. Either way, we are talking about the face value of the coins here only, not their potential numismatic or bullion value which can transform a small "posthole bank" into quite a score for the savvy treasure hunter armed with a good metal detector.

What are you waiting for? Get out there and find your own "posthole bank!"

If you liked this post, you may want to read:

"5 Famous Lost Mines and Treasures"

http://treasuretrovegold.blogspot.com/2008/11/5-famous-lost-mines-and-treasures.html

Good hunting.

(c) J.R. 2008

Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com

21 Tons of Gold

An American Treasure Ship

In early September of 1857, the U.S. steamship S.S. Central America departed Havana for its final destination, New York City. Aside from the nearly 600 souls on board the Central America also carried nearly 21 tons of gold in her holds and hidden away in the staterooms and on the persons of her passengers.

Where did all this gold come from? The answer, of course, is the unbelievably rich goldfields that had triggered the California Gold Rush in 1848-1849. The huge amount of gold on board the Central America included not only placer nuggets, flakes, and fines, but ingots, bars, and coins from the few private mints operating in the Golden State at the time.

Unfortunately, the Central America and her passengers and crew would never enter the safe waters of New York harbor. Instead, just two days out of Havana, the steamer sailed into the path of a powerful hurricane that battered her for nearly 48 hours, eventually filling her with water and sinking her off the coast of the Carolinas with a loss of 325 passengers and crew, and yes, all that gold.

Gold Pans
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A Young Engineer Hits the Jackpot

The wreck of the Central America remained undisturbed on the ocean floor for nearly 130 years, 8,000 feet below the surface of the Atlantic. But in the early 1980s a young innovative engineer with childhood treasure tales circulating in his blood began a search for the Central America. Tommy Thompson was his name and he was a maverick with a "never-say-die" attitude. Tommy and his friends, colleagues, and financial supporters did their research, paid their dues, and eventually put together an impressive expedition to locate the wreck site of the Central America and its treasure trove. They finally succeeded in 1989.

Not only did Tommy Thompson and his supporters achieve the impossible in terms of deep water treasure recovery, they brought to light an important part of American history that had vanished beneath the waves with the wreck of the Central America. The gold recovered from the wreck was not only valuable in terms of sheer amounts, but also in terms of historical and numismatic perspectives. Many of the privately minted gold coins brought up from the ocean floor from the Central America were priceless due to their rarity and condition.

More Information on the Central America

If you are interested in learning more about wreck of the Central America and Tommy Thompson's recovery expeditions you may want to read "Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea" which can be purchased from most booksellers. I've read my copy more than once and each time I am just as enthralled by this astonishing treasure tale as I was the first time. Or, alternately, you can visit the S.S. Central America website at http://www.shipofgoldinfo.com/, where the full story is told and you can view many images of the spectacular gold finds recovered from the ship.

Either way, it's one heck of a story filled with more gold than you can imagine.

Get Rugged. Visit OutdoorPros.com Today!

If you liked this post, you may want to read: "The Lost Waterfall Mine"

http://treasuretrovegold.blogspot.com/2008/11/lost-waterfall-mine.html

(c) J.R. 2008

Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com

5 Famous Lost Mines and Treasures

(The "Money Pit" at Oak Island, Nova Scotia.)

Although "Treasure Trove Dreams" is all about lost mines and treasures, there are certain myths and legends that I will address only in passing. Why? The simple fact that so many others have gone before me in analyzing and pursuing these treasure tales and a wealth of superior information already exists out there about them . However, I do want to list a few of these I consider to be some of the most famous:

1. The Lost Dutchman Mine

Arguably the "great grand daddy" of all lost mine and lost treasure legends, the search for Arizona's Lost Dutchman Mine continues unabated by both groups and individuals. As the story goes, a prospector and miner named Jacob Waltz made a rich gold strike somewhere within or near the Superstition Mountains. On his death bed he alluded to the riches contained therein and things have never been the same since. People have actually died or been murdered searching for this one, so be forewarned. Oh, by the way, according to 2 or 3 fortunate souls out there, the Lost Dutchman Mine has already been found....Hmmmmmm, right. (You can read more about the Lost Dutchman Mine at http://www.lostdutchmanmines.com/index.html.)

Get Rugged. Visit OutdoorPros.com Today.

2. The Lost Adams Diggings

In this famous treasure yarn a miner named Adams and his friends discover rich placer gold ground in a hidden canyon in New Mexico (although Arizona factors heavily in this tale as well) and then are attacked by hostile Indians. Only Adams himself lives to tell the tale. For many years afterwards Adams and others try to relocate this natural treasure trove wthout luck, and the search for the Lost Adams Diggings continues today. Once again, at least one individual online claims to have found the Diggings, but he has not proffered up any of Adams' lost gold nuggets as proof yet.

Costplustools

3. The Mystery of Oak Island's "Money Pit"

This famous treasure legend takes us to Oak Island in Nova Scotia where the search continues for what is assumed to be an elaborately "booby trapped" pirate's cache. Over the years various individuals and enterprises have drilled down into the cache area, known as the "Money Pit," without much success. Over the years some interesting artifacts and other bits and pieces of the Oak Island treasure mystery have been recovered, but unfortunately, lives have been lost in the process (for more on the "Money Pit" go to http://www.oakislandtreasure.co.uk/).

4. The Beale Treasure

In the first two decades of the 1800s Thomas Jefferson Beale supposedly buried vast amounts of silver and gold somewhere in Bedford County, Virginia. This treasure legend is one of America's best documented and most persistent (along with the Lost Dutchman Mine) and has something for everyone, including mysterious codes and ciphers and those who claim to have broken the Beale Codes (you can find more on the Beale Treasure at (http://130.94.183.27/stories/beale.html).

5. The Lost Pegleg Mine

This is one major treasure I decided to cover here in "Treasure Trove Dreams" and you can read the entire series of posts beginning with "Legends of Lost Gold: the Lost Pegleg Mine" (http://treasuretrovegold.blogspot.com/2008/10/legends-of-lost-gold-lost-pegleg-mine.html). Pegleg Smith discovers and then loses a fortune in "black gold nuggets" somewhere between San Diego and Yuma. Go figure....

Be safe out there and good hunting!

(c) J.R. 2008

Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com)

The Lost Nuggets of Red Hill

(Old drywash tailings in the mountains of New Mexico.)

New Mexico is Well Known for Lost Treasures

The State of New Mexico is well known for legends of lost treasure, including the Lost Adams Diggings, the Victorio Peak Treasure ("100 Tons of Gold"), and the Lost Padre Mine. In addition to these well-known or significant treasure myths and legends, the Land of Enchantment provides the setting for a number of lesser lost mine and treasure tales. The Lost Nuggets of Red Hill is one of the latter.

Treasure Hunting
Gold Concentrators
Metal Detectors

Another Adams But a Different Treasure

It's interesting to note that the Lost Nuggets of Red Hill treasure tale, just like its more famous "cousin" the Lost Adams Diggings, also has at its center an old prospector named...yes, you guessed it....Adams. And, both legends involve lost gold nuggets. Yet, these treasure tales are not one in the same, despite this interesting duality (in fact, there is a 25-year time gap between this legend and its successor, the Lost Adams Diggings).

A Red Hill Covered in Placer Gold Nuggets

According to legend, in 1836 an old prospector named Adams staggered into the quaint mountain village of Pinos Altos (Spanish for Tall Pines), which lies just a few miles north of present-day Silver City, NM. Adams was near death and bleeding copiously from a number of arrow and gunshot wounds inflicted on him by hostile Indians. He was taken to a local doctor where, on his death bed, he told several of the locals gathered around him that he had been prospecting for gold north of Pinos Altos when he was set upon and wounded.

In a voice that was barely audible, Adams related that he had been on his own in the wilds for a number of weeks when he spied a reddish-colored hill in the near distance that stood out from the surrounding terrain. Intrigued, Adams made his way to the base of the red hill, despite recognizing Indian signs along the way. At its base and along its slopes he found placer gold nuggets everywhere he looked. In a frenzy Adams began picking the nuggets up off the ground where they lay exposed, totally forgetting he was in potential danger. That's when he was attacked.

"Did You Find Anything Out There, Old Man?"

One of the curious bystanders stared hard at the dying man and asked, "Did you find anything out there old man?" Adams raised a shaking hand and weakly pointed to his saddlebags and blanket roll. One of the men in the room searched Adams' belongings. Each was stuffed with small buckskin bags filled with placer gold nuggets, lots of nuggets, in fact over $7,000 worth of nuggets when they were later weighed and assayed (remember, this was in an era when a troy ounce of gold was worth $16.00-$20.00). As the full impact of the moment hit everyone in the room, Adams exhaled his last breath and died.

Myth, Legend, or Fact?

Despite its core allure of lost gold nuggets, I don't place much faith in the Lost Nuggets of Red Hill legend (actually, it would be better termed a myth). Why? A number of key points, including:

Pinos Altos (formerly Birchville and Pino Alto) was not established until 1860 when 3 ex-'49ers passing through the area discovered placer gold along Bear Creek.

Skills in gold prospecting or placer gold mining were not common in this era, particularly in Southern New Mexico. Remember also that the California Gold Rush and its incidental increase in prospecting and mining skills, and knowledge would not occur for at least a decade.

The Apaches controlled much of this area of New Mexico at the time, and anyone venturing alone into their sphere of influence would likely end up suffering a cruel end (this point can be viewed as both a plus and a negative in relation to this treasure tale).

The amazing "coincidence" that 2 New Mexico treasure legends contain key individuals named Adams who both found unbelievably rich ground containing gold nuggets is a bit hard to swallow and has a bit of the smell of dead fish to me.

Still, I do believe that nearly every treasure tale has at least one element of truth to it. What that element of truth is for the Lost Nuggets of Red Hill I cannot hazard to guess. Perhaps you yourself can pick it out. If so, let me know your thoughts.

Good hunting out there.

If you liked this post, you may want to read: "Legends of Lost Gold: the Lost Pegleg Mine"

http://treasuretrovegold.blogspot.com/2008/10/legends-of-lost-gold-lost-pegleg-mine.html

(c) J.R. 2008

Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com

Pegleg's Lost Gold: Pros and Cons of a Treasure Tale Gone Awry (Conclusion)

In my previous post on the legend of the "Lost Pegleg Mine" and its purported discovery, I suggested that the "discoverer's" story about finding Pegleg's black gold nuggets in the Southern California desert created a number of questions in my mind. Even though certain parts of this gentleman's story make sense to some degree, much of what he has to say is flawed and open to debate.



Again, here are quotes from the finder's story and my thoughts and questions, both pro and con, regarding certain aspects of the story.

"By dipping the nuggets into a hot chemical bath, all of the copper oxide was dissolved and stripped off, leaving the bright yellow gold nuggets. Certain solutions, I discovered, would strip off most of the copper but still leave the nuggets with a reddish tint that was quite natural."

The finder is ready to sell Pegleg's gold but fears the the black desert varnish coating the nuggets will give away his secret. That makes sense. So he uses a chemical bath to remove the dark coating from the coat. Yet, inconsistencies appear in the quote above almost immediately.

First of all, copper typically oxidizes with a greenish, or greenish-blue hue, not black (which typifies other, baser metal oxidation). Next, the finder says that once the black coating was dissolved, "bright yellow nuggets" were exposed. Then, in the very next breath, he states that the nuggets were left "with a reddish tint that was quite natural." So which is it? Bright yellow, or red? The narrator never provides a consistent description of the gold throughout his story.

"Actually, I just camped out, did a bit of hunting and fishing, enjoyed my vacation thoroughly, did some "panning" with my gold pan, and generally went through the motions of placer mining. Back in Nome, I let it be known that I had worked hard, had found a little "color," but nothing to get excited about. I then sold the gold, a few ounces at a time...but never more than 15 ounces at one time."

Here the narrator talks about going to Alaska to sell his gold. A bit extreme, but plausible under the circumstances. What is not plausible, however, is his account of panning and going through the motions of placer mining in a locale where gold miners are not only experienced and knowledgeable, but thoroughly familiar with the gold-bearing areas they work and what sort of gold is found nearby.

So a newcomer, or "cheechako" from the Lower 48 comes along knowing absolutely nothing about the area or its gold, heads into the nearby wilderness to mine, then rolls back into town to sell nothing but nuggets (no fines or flakes) in lots of 15 ounces at a whack, and the locals eat it all up with a spoon. Come on! You don't think that any local miner worth his or her salt couldn't figure out that something was up? They sure as heck would, and the first thing they would say is "those nuggets you've been finding don't look anything like the gold recovered around here." Either way, with that sort of gold being found by a novice, a mini-stampede would have ensued and eventually the cat would have been let out of the bag.

Something else to consider here is the difference between desert placer gold and placer gold recovered from streams. The former is typically identified by its alloy with more copper (giving it a reddish-orange or pinkish tint) and its coarseness. Most streamborne placer gold is smoother, more rounded and less coarse, and typically (though not always) contains less copper or other metals for a higher purity standard. Makes you wonder about the finder's tale a bit, doesn't it?

Other Issues to Ponder

There are a number of other issues to ponder concerning the finder's tale of discovering Pegleg's gold. He states that he used a metal detector to recover the greatest majority of the gold at the site, and that the black nuggets were recovered from the surface, to 4 inches, and then all the way to 2 feet or more.

Remember, all of this occurred in the mid-to-late 1950s. Metal detector technology for treasure hunting or coin/nugget hunting was in its infancy and the few detectors around were notoriously inefficient and problematic as well. Additionally, it takes time to become familiar with metal detector operation, especially for a novice. Something to think about, isn't it?

The proof of the pudding may be the black nuggets that were given to the editor of Desert Magazine by the alleged discoverer of Pegleg's lost gold. But the story tapers off after that. Where are the those black nuggets now? Have they ever been photographed, documented, or placed on exhibition somewhere? To my knowledge, the answer is no. So that aspect of the story remains a "will-'o-the-wisp" as well. As do the key players themselves.

Conclusion

There are probably many other inconsistencies in this tale of treasure found, and perhaps you can point them out to me. If so, please do. In my mind however, no matter how charming this story may be or how plausible it is in certain parts, overall I find it flawed and unbelievable.

If Pegleg's Lost Mine ever truly existed, then perhaps his black gold nuggets still remain in place. Somewhere out there between the Colorado River and the mountains of East San Diego County. That's a lot of territory to search. Especially based on the veracity and reliability of a well-known liar and drunkard. But there is always one small element of truth in every treasure tale.

Find that element of truth and perhaps you'll find those black gold nuggets. Then again, they may have already been found...

If you liked this post, you may want to read: "Pegleg's Lost Gold: Pros and Cons of a Treasure Tale Gone Awry (Part 1)"

http://treasuretrovegold.blogspot.com/2008/11/peglegs-lost-gold-pros-and-cons-of.html

(c) J.R. 2008

Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com

Pegleg's Lost Gold: Pros and Cons of a Treasure Tale Gone Awry (Part 1)

In my recent series of posts on the legend of the "Lost Pegleg Mine" and its purported discovery, I suggested that the "discoverer's" story about finding Pegleg's black gold nuggets in the Southern California desert created as many questions in my mind as it answered. Although parts of this gentleman's story make sense, much of what he has to say is flawed.

Gold Prospecting Books
Gold Pans
Gold Concentrators

So here are some quotes from the finder's story and my thoughts and questions, both pro and con, regarding them:

"I used my pocketknife to scrape the pebble's surface and when I saw the yellow glitter I dropped it and then picked it up again with trembling hand. I don't know how long I sat there paralyzed with that black gold nugget in my hand."

In Pegleg Smith's original account he described the black nuggets as being "orangish-yellow" in appearance when the desert varnish was scraped off. From my own mining experience I know that desert gold often contains varying amounts of copper, which will give it a more orange or even a "pinkish" tint. But here the finder states he saw a "yellow glitter." Again, are the black nuggets yellow, or are they more coppery or "orangish?"

Most of you out there have gold mining experience and you know full well that there is no sparkle or "glitter" to natural gold. It retains a beautiful, even gleam or glow in direct light. Finally, the finder says that he sat paralyzed with "that black gold nugget" in hand. The finder is stating, without reservation or equivocation, that what he holds in his hand is gold. How would he know that at the time, without any sort of gold mining experience under his belt and prior to assay?

"This was it! I'd found the black Pegleg gold!" "...and 3) I would return home and find out if the black nuggets really were gold."

The finder admits earlier he'd read about the legend of Pegleg Smith's gold in Desert Magazine, which means he knew the "ins and outs" of the existing legend. Again, in his account, he declares what he has found is "Pegleg's gold" and in the same breath declares he will return home and find out if the "black nuggets really were gold." Is there not a bit of inconsistency here in the finder's tale that relates to what I said earlier?

Costplustools

"First thing in the morning I sorted more pebbles and added two more black nuggets to the seven already in my pocket. Then I headed back to the jeep."

This part of the story does not make sense to me. First, the finder is so excited about the prospect of having found Pegleg's lost gold that he is "paralyzed" and his mind is numb. Then, at first light the next day, he starts searching again, finds just two additional black nuggets, and decides to hightail it back to his jeep and head for civilization where he can get the black nuggets assayed.

Would you, or I for that matter, if we were certain we had found a trove of gold such as this, cease searching and head back to town right away? I think not. Most people would work frenziedly all day trying to recover as much gold as is humanly possible. Especially if we were as certain as this gentleman was of having discovered real gold. We'd want to get as much in our hands as possible before anyone else came along, or just out of basic greed, as repugnant as that thought may be. Like the famous line about gold and greed in the classic adventure film, "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" states, "even the fear of miserable death couldn't keep you away."

"Should I announce the discovery..., Should I call a newspaper...., Should I confide in my friends?"

Here the finder's narrative makes sense. The absolute worst thing any miner, coin hunter, or treasure hunter can do after making a significant discovery is to broadcast the event to others. Greed is infectious. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry will come scurrying out of the woodwork with counterclaims to either take your "goods" away from you or get a slice of the pie for themselves. This includes lawyers, land owners, government bureaucrats, and plain old "Joes" looking to score. (I know, I've had personal experience in this regard.)

I'll continue my analysis of the finder's story in a future post. Until then, take care of yourself.

If you liked this post, you may want to read: "Legends of Lost Gold: Pegleg's Gold Found (Conclusion)"

http://treasuretrovegold.blogspot.com/2008/11/legends-of-lost-gold-peglegs-gold-found_14.html

(c) J.R. 2008

Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com

J.R., Gold Miner and Treasure Hunter in Residence

Hello and Welcome to "Treasure Trove Dreams"

Hello and welcome.

I'm Jim Rocha (a.k.a., J.R.), gold miner and treasure hunter in residence at "Treasure Trove Dreams" and the author of the posts herein. Since the blog's template only allows limited "about me" information, I thought I'd take a little time to tell you more about myself.

I am a 64-year old Vietnam Veteran who is married with one son. Although my wife and I are native Californians, we've lived and worked in the Santa Fe, New Mexico area now for over 20 years. My somewhat "checkered" working career has included stints as a laborer, house painter, tile setter, marketing analyst, university professor, technical writer, and most recently, in the realm of science and engineering.

You Name It, I've Probably Done It

I've been gold placer mining and treasure hunting (coins, artifacts, small caches and troves, beaches) now for over 30 years. You name it and I've probably done it at one time or another. Sometimes with great success and at times with less than sterling results. I've creviced, sniped, dry washed, metal detected, sluiced, high banked, and dredged in gold-bearing areas from the Colorado, Mojave, and Sonoran Deserts to fast-flowing streams in the High Sierras and the Rocky Mountains, and from the banks of the Motherlode's North Yuba River to dry arroyos and barely running creeks of little consequence scattered throughout the West. I've metal detected old coins in parks, schoolyards, and the lawns of ante-bellum homes back East, and I've recovered large dollar amounts of lost jewelry from Southern California ocean beaches.

"Color" in My Veins

My eyes are trained to see gold mineralization when it's there or the indicators of beach gold "pockets" after a big Pacific storm. I continually wonder if that distant fold in a hillside may hold long-forgotten gold or how many personal items (coins and jewelry) are being lost in a certain location on any given day. I can't help myself. It's the way I think and see. And if you, like myself, are a gold prospector, recreational miner, or treasure hunter with "color" in your veins, you know exactly what I am talking about.

Enjoy Your Time Here

That's it in a nutshell. If I can answer any questions for you please let me know. It doesn't matter if you are a newcomer to treasure hunting or an old pro, I am here to serve your interests to the best of my ability. Your comments and questions are always important to me.

I've provided a wealth of information in this blog for you to "mine." Use that information in the manner that best suits you and, above all, enjoy your time here.

Thanks for stopping by!

(c) J.R. 2012

Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com