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• t , ) Iii GOLD PANNING IN ARIZONA

Mineral Report No.7 by Diane Bain /' :;/:.::.::::::::::::. Department of Mines & Mineral Resources :::.. :.:.: .:.:.: .::::::.::.:.:. .::)~~ Mineral Building, Fairgrounds Phoenix, Arizona 85007 i!ii

III

------'------THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES

The objective of the Department is to promote the development of Arizona's mineral resources. This is accomplished through technical research, field investigations, compilation of infonnation into a mineral occurrence data base and disseminating infonnation through publications, personal contacts and seminars.

The Department's mining engineers and geologists assist mining and exploration companies, prospectors and others interested in Arizona's minerals with mineral processing, mineral land acquisition, exploration, mine development, financing, government regulations and marketing.

The Department is a service agency and does not regulate, tax, or require any type of registration. The agency provides assistance that is tailored to meet the diverse needs of the public. The following is a partial list of services which the Department offers:

• Maintain a site specific data base of unpublished reports and maps that includes 5,000 mine files and indexes of 10,000 computerized Arizona mineral occurrences.

• Maintain an infonnation bank and library of mineral and mining infonnation including a mine map library (hard copy and microfilm), government publications, periodicals, and unpublished master and doctorate theses.

• Gather and disseminate infonnation on commodities and markets.

• Suggest target areas for exploration activity.

• Suggest properties for acquisition and development.

• Assist individuals and companies in their dealings with State regulatory agencies to facilitate their mining and exploration activity.

• Produce publications in the fonn of mineral reports, annual directories, technical reports, annual mineral industry surveys and infonnation circulars. These include Laws and Regulations Governing Mineral Rights in Arizona, Directory of Active Mines in Arizona, Manual for Determination of Status and Ownership ofArizona Mineral and Water Rights, and others. A current listing of the Department publications is available upon request.

• Maintain the Arizona Mineral Museum. ( •

HAPPY PANNING!

GOLD PANNING IN ARIZONA BIBUOGRAPHY AND SUGGESTED READING

Black, Jack, 1980. Gold Prospectors Handbook, Wilson, E. D., 1933. Arizona Gold Placers and Gem Guides, 176 p . Placering, Arizona Bureau of Mines Bull. 135, •\ Reprinted by Gem Guides Books Co., 1980, Clark, L.D. and Verity, V.H., 1988. Laws and 148 p. Regulations Governing Mineral Rights in Arizona, Department of Mines & Mineral Wilson, E. D., Fansett, G. R., Johnson, e. H., and Resources, Special Report 12, 9th Edition. 91 p. Roseveare, G. H., 1961. Gold Placers and Placer­ ing in Arizona, Arizona Bureau of Mines Bull Johnson, M. G., 1987. Placer Gold Deposits of 168, (Now the Arizona Geological Survey), Bull Arizona, U.S. Geological Survey, Bull. 1355, 168,124 p. reprinted by Gem Guides Books Co., 103 p. Yeend, W. and Shawe, D.R., 1989. Gold in Klein, James K., Dry Washing for Gold, Keene Placer Deposits, U.S. Geological Survey, Bull. Engineering, 85 p. 1857-G, 19 p.

Lacy, J.e., 1986. Manual for Determination of Status and Ownership, Arizona Mineral & Water Rights, Arizona Department of Mines & Mineral Resources, Special Report 11,50 p.

Nations, D. and Stump, E., 1981. Geology of Arizona, Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 221 p.

Petralia, 1. F., 1980. Gold! Gold!, A Beginners Handbook and Recreational Guide: How to Prospect for Gold, 112 p.

Wells, J.H., 1969. Placer Examination - Prin­ ciples and Practice, U.S. Bur. of Land Manage­ ment, Technical Bull. 4, 155 p.

Wilkins, J. Jr., Editor, 1984. Gold and Silver Deposits of the Basin and Range Province, Western U.S.A., Arizona Geological Society, Vol. XV, 233 p. 20 Gold Panning in Arizona

GLOSSARY ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF MINES Lode - vein or deposit of ore in place in rock, as opposed to a placer deposit AND MINERAL RESOURCES Alluvial deposit - sand and gravel transported by flowing water Mother Lode - specifically refers to an area in

California on the western slopes of the Sierra ! Leroy E. Kissinger, Director Amalgamation - a process which utilizes mer­ Nevada Mountains; more generally, it is the cury to extract gold from pulverized ore or for parent lode deposit of a placer occurrence collecting fine gold in placer operations Native gold - gold as it occurs naturally, uncom­ Arrastre - a primitive grinding mill for crushing bined with other elements ore, often mule or donkey powered Ore - a mineral of sufficient value and quantity Phoenix Office: Tucson Office: Auriferous - containing gold to be mined at a profit Mineral Building, Fairgrounds 416 W. Congress, Rm. 162 Tucson, Arizona 85701 Bench - a terrace along a stream bank left by the Pay Streak - a concentration of placer gold in Phoenix, Arizona 85007 former water flow sand and gravel (602) 255-3791 (602) 628-6340 Toll Free in Arizona: 800-446-4259 Claim jumping - staking over someone else's Placer - a deposit of gold in sand or gravel as claim opposed to a lode deposit contained in rock

Colors - very small gold particles in the sand in Sluice - a trough using hydraulic power to con­ a gold pan centrate gold-bearing material

Concentrates - prospectors' term for the mixture Tailings - the waste or leavings of a mineral BOARD OF GOVERNORS of gold and black sands processing operation

Dredging - the use of a vacuum or scoop to suck up sand and gravel below water Clifford B. Altfeld - Tucson Chairman Dry washer - a machine for extracting gold from gravel and sand without water

Eluvial deposit - residual or "in place" deposit on hillside below outcrop Roy Miller - Phoenix Edna Vinck - Globe Secretary Vice Chairman Fool's gold - popular term for any mineral that looks like gold, commonly iron pyrite

Free gold -Gold uncombined with other substan­ Arthur H. Kinneburg - Phoenix C. J. Hansen - Tucson ces Member Member Grubstake - supplies provided to a prospector in return for a share in the claim Gold Panning in Arizona 19

Table 6. Conversion Table for Measuring Gold

Grains PennvweiS!ht Troy Ounce Avoir. Ounce Grams 1 Grain 1 0.0417 0.0021 0.0023 0.0648 1 PennvweiS!ht 24 1 0.0500 0.0549 1.5552 1 Trov Ounce 480 20 1 1.0971 31.1040 1 Avoir. Ounce 437.5 18.2292 0.9115 1 28.35

A WORD ABOUT SAFETY

1. Take plenty of water. This is ~ most impor­ 5. Stay out of mine shafts and underground tant rule for desert survival. Do not count on mine workings no matter how safe they appear. drinking stream water. Much of the stream water Decaying timber, unstable ground, and harmful in Arizona is unpotable. gases can make old mines hazardous.

2. Let someone know where you are going and 6. Do not trespass on posted property. This is when you plan to be back. not just good manners, but a wise safety precau­ tion. 3. Take a map with you and know how to read it. Topographic maps, preferably 7.5 min., are 7. Beware of dry washes if there is a chance of good for field use. Familiarize yourself with the distant storms. Desert drainages are well-known area in which you will be panning. for going from dry to raging torrents in moments.

4. Watch where you put your hands and feet 8. Take a first aid course and bring a first aid to avoid conflict with unfriendly wildlife. Be kit. cautious when turning over stones or logs. 9. Use common sense. Gold Panning in Arizona 18 Department of Mines and Mineral Resources are likely spots. As streams meander the sand bars gold on display at the Department of Mines and Mineral Building, Fairgrounds move laterally, so older deposits may be covered, Mineral Resources' Arizona Mineral Museum Phoenix, Arizona 85007 waiting for the wily gold panner. will assist you in acquiring identification skills. (602) 255-3791 Toll Free in Arizona - 1-800-446-4259 The Department's staff will be happy to identify Broadening of a stream will also slow the flow your find if you are in doubt. Placer gold can also of water and force deposition. The confluence of be found on display at the University of Arizona two streams, where the currents meet are worth in Tucson, the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum investigation. in Tucson, and various mineral and mining equip­ ment shops. Gold accumulates in crevices, cavities, and potholes. Any natural pocket, such as those formed by ridges and depressions in the stream GOLD PANNING IN ARIZONA bed, act in the same manner as a gold pan in concentrating the grains of gold. Mineral Report No.7 Drain pipes and cuI verts under roadways may trap gold above them due to restriction of flow. Obstacles such as boulders and tree roots receive deposits on the downstream side.

Black sand (usually magnetite), because of its high specific gravity, behaves very much like gold. Arizona prospectors often say, "No black sand - no gold." Not all black sand contains gold, but it is so often a companion to gold that any areas where black sand is concentrated should be panned.

Figure 10. Vial containing flakes of gold. Note the size of Stream transport tends to round large nuggets and the grains of gold. flatten smaller ones. Therefore, sharp, angular nuggets indicate the lode source was nearby. Trying to trace a placer back to its lode is not often Here are some clues that may help spot gold by Diane Bam rewarding, however. amongst its common look-alikes; pyrite and mica. July, 1990

HOW TO IDENTIFY GOLD 5\ Pyrite breaks when struck, gold flattens. 5\ Mica flakes are crushed easily with a finger nail. The old prospectors' adage, "If you wonder if 5\ A cubic shape is a good indication of pyrite it's gold or not - it's not," is a surprisingly 5\ Gold is golden in color, not brassy. accurate way to identify gold. Gold often has a 5\ Pyrite glitters in the sun, gold does not. distinctive, unmistakable look. The best way to 5\ Gold moves reluctantly in the pan. get an 'eye' for gold is by actually looking at placer gold. The collection of Arizona placer © Copyright, 1990. Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources Gold Panning in Arizona 17

TABLE OF CONTENTS HOW TO PAN (less than half a cup) of material is left in your pan. This concentration of heavier material should be worked carefully. Swirl the pan in a Introduction 1 A gold pan is the only equipment that is ab- circular motion to fan out the concentrate in a solutely necessary to get started gold panning, History of Arizona Placer Mining 2 'tail.' Gold, if present, will show in the tail. although a small hand trowel or shovel, is very Origin of Placer Gold 5 helpful. If you pursue this activity you may want You are far more likely to fmd "flakes" ( or colors) Where to Go 7 to add a classifier, tweezers, a magnet, and a of gold than nuggets, so check your pan carefully. How to Pan 17 magnifying glass. Gold pans may often be pur­ Black sand, if common magnetite, can be How to Identify Gold 18 chased at hardware stores, but the local prospect­ removed easily with a magnet. Put the magnet in A Word About Safety 19 ing shops are recommended. They are a good a plastic bag to avoid the necessity of continually source of infonnation on panning, often have Glossary 20 cleaning the magnet after use. Tweezers and an displays of nuggets, and are interesting places to Bibliography and Suggested Reading 21 eyedropper can be useful in retrieving gold from visit. They are listed in the telephone directory your pan. It is frustrating to find a few flakes of under 'mining equipment.' Carrying extra water gold and not have a place to put them, so carry and a large tub will enable you to pan in areas that FIGURES along a small container. A glass vial filled with do not have water. water shows off your find admirably, but a pill container will do. Due to gold's high specific gravity, panning is an Frontispiece. Photograph of gold panner. effective way to separate gold from the sand and Prospecting Tips Figure 1. Photograph of an Arizona nugget. 1 gravelofa stream. If you pan correctly, and there Figure 2. Photograph of a gold dredge, circa 1933. 2 is gold in the sediments you are panning, the gold Figure 3. Photograph of Sharlot Hall on Lynx Creek. 3 will end up in the bottom of your pan when the The following suggestions for finding placer Figure 4. Graph showing average yearly gold price. 4 lighter materials have been washed away. Pan­ gold are a combination of science and folk ning is a simple process, but difficult to describe. Figure 5. Photograph of hydraulic mining operation, 1890. 6 wisdom. Find what works best for you by trial Watch an experienced panner if you have an and error. Figure 6. Map showing Arizona placer districts. 8 opportunity. "Figure 7. Map showing placer gold occurrences in Arizona. 13 Because of gold's great density, it seeks a Figure 8. Lake Pleasant Regional Park. 14 Fill the pan about half full of gravel, sand, or dirt. downward course. Just as it works its way down Figure 9. Lynx Lake Gold Panning Area. 15 Submerge the pan in water, breaking up any in a gold pan, gold settles downward in sand and Figure 10. Photograph of vial of gold flakes. 18 clumps with your hands and throwing away large gravel to bedrock, down into cracks, downhill, rocks, after verifying they are not large nuggets. downstream. Eventually it goes out to the sea. TABLES Shake the pan underwater. Raise the pan, moving Keeping this in mind will help you find favorable it in a circular motion and tipping it away from places for gold to accumulate. These accumula­ you so the top layer flows out of the pan. The tions of placer gold are called "pay streaks." The Table 1. Gold facts and figures. 5 motion of the pan will settle the gold to the richest portion of a placer usually rests on or near bottom, duplicating the action of the stream that Table 2. USGS topgraphic maps for Arizona placer districts. 9 bedrock if the gold grains have had time to be concentrates the gold in the stream bed. sorted. Table 3. Placer gold occurrences. 11 Table 4. U. S. Bureau of Land Management offices. 16 Occasionally tapping the rim of the pan with the In stream deposits, look for areas where the Table 5. U. S. Forest Service offices. 16 palm of your hand will help settle the gold to the stream looses velocity. The carrying ability of Table 6. Conversion table for measuring gold. 19 bottom. Speed is not a priority. Take the time to water is diminished when it is slowed, forcing the pan carefully. Manually rake larger grains from stream to release its load of sediments. Sand bars, the pan. Repeat this process until a small amount Photographs on page 1 and 18 are by Jeff Scovil. deposited on the inside of bends in stream beds, 16 Gold Panning in Arizona

Table 4 Table 5 GOLD PANNING IN ARIZONA U. S. Bureau of Land Management U. S. Forest Service. by Diane Bain

State Office: The U.S. Forest Service Offices can be good "A piece of gold weighing almost 17 pounds was found in the Ruby drift mine. The 3707 N. 7th Street, Suite 300 sources of information on the area you plan to chunk was lying near the bed-rock, as is the case with most of the gold in the primary PO Box 16563 visit. The following is a list of the U. S. Forest Pliocene channels. The finder was naturally somewhat excited at the discovery of the Phoenix, Arizona 85011 Service District Offices that are located in placer largest piece of gold ever found in that section. II Citizen - October 20, 1891 Phone: 241-5547 areas.

Kingman Resource Area Office: Coronado National Forest 2475 Beverly Douglas District - 364-3468 INlRODUC110N most optimistic of dreams. The remote possibility Kingman, Arizona 86401 Nogales District - 281-2296 of a large nugget adds an excitement to the effort. Phone: 757-3161 Safford District - 428-4150 It should also be remembered that an estimated Santa Catalina District - 749-8700 This publication was written for the beginning, 80% of the world's gold still lies undiscovered! Phoenix District Office: Sierra Vista District - 458-0530 recreational gold panner. It is hoped that some 2015 W. Deer Valley Road of the information provided may also prove useful Phoenix, Arizona 85027 Prescott National Forest for the more serious and seasoned prospector. For Phone: 863-4464 Bradshaw District - 445-7253 those with a sustained interest, the bibliography Chino Valley District - 636-2302 lists sources of additional and more comprehen­ Safford District Office Verde District - 567-4121 sive information. 425 E. 4th Street Safford, Arizona 85546 Tonto National Forest The benefits of gold panning as a recreational Phone: 428-4040 Cave Creek District - 488-3441 activity are many. As an excuse to get out of the Globe District - 425-7189 city and see more of our beautiful State, it is Yuma District Office Mesa District - 835-1161 unparalleled. The most promising placer ground 3150 Winsor Payson District - 474-2269 lies in some of Arizona's most appealing geo­ Yuma, Arizona 85365 Pleasant Valley District - 462-3311 graphy. The equipment necessary to get started is Phone: 726-6300 Tonto Basin District - 467-2236 minimal and inexpensive. Panning is healthy, Figure 1. An Arizona gold nugget. outdoor exercise in which the whole family can National Forests and U. S. Bureau of Land participate. Definition of Placer Gold Management areas are generally open for mineral Arizona State Trust Lands, in general, are not entry. Do lli!t pan within National Parks, Indian available for recreational use. Development of the Howvever, since gold has a fascinating, almost Placer (PLA-ser - pronounced with a short "a") is Reservations, Wilderness Areas, Military Reser­ minerals on State Land is allowed under a system mystical appeal, perhaps a word of caution is gold that occurs as grains in sand and gravel vations, within 60 feet of the Mexico border, or of State permits. It is a restrictive process and, by warranted. The days of 'striking it rich' gold accumulations. Lode gold, on the other hand, on railroad right-of-way. its nature, tends to discourage recreational ac­ panning are over. Even the concept of sup­ occurs "in place" as veins or disseminated in solid tivity. If you wish to pursue a State prospecting, plementing a regular income is not a realistic rock. An estimated 600,000 ounces of placer leasing, or production permit, contact the State expectation. The rewards of gold panning are gold have been mined from Arizona streams since Land Department, 1616 West Adams, Phoenix, great, but seldom include monetary gain. The gold was first discovered here in the 1850's. Arizona 85007, phone 542-4621. results of your labor will probably end up gracing Considering that, in general, Arizona has not had the top of your dresser or coffee table. process water available for large operations, this figure is impressive. This reality should not restrict your fun. There are enough valid accounts of bonanzas to fuel the Gold Panning in Arizona 2 MARICOPA COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT Agure 9. LAKE PLEASANT REGIONAL PARK HISTORY OF ARIZONA PLACER MINING When Arizona became aU. S. Territory in 1848, Americans began fIltering into the area looking In 1912 President Taft signed the statehood for placer gold. The majority of them were dis­ , '\ Lake Pleasant ,f CIo ..d te .... hlcl .. \ proclamation that made Arizona the 48th state couraged '4gers' from the California gold rush, ,, Regional Park, ad­ using a pen made of gold from Arizona mines. ,, ministered by Maricopa hopeful that the unexplored Arizona washes I Clo .. d to v.hlel .. , .~ , County, is located ap­ This was an appropriate symbol since this metal would prove fruitful. \ , \ ,I proximately 20 miles I \ I has played a major role in the history and develop­ I I northwest of Phoenix on I ment of the State. It was gold that fIrst brought Col. Jacob Snively discovered the Gila City I I, Castle Hot Springs Road. Europeans into the area and later attracted the fIrst \ Access is off!-17 (Black Placers in 1858 near the confluence of the I settlers. Many of the colorful tales woven into the Colorado and Gila Rivers. Quickly hundreds, and ,~ .... --..".-' Canyon Freeway) to I" .\SUA fRI .. State Route 74 via history of Arizona are tales of gold. perhaps thousands, of California miners con­ '. RIYlR " Carefree Highway. This \ verged on the site. As R. J. Hinton, early historian, ,I 14,000 acre park The Spanish Conquistadors entered the area that described it, "There was everything in Gila City ~ .. " provides for a variety of we now call Arizona in the 1500's in a search for within a few months but a church and a jail." recreational activity in­ gold. It is doubtful that these expeditions found Feverish mining activity continued for about four cluding boating, fishing, even minor amounts, since the region was sub­ picnicking, and camping. years. These dry placers have been worked inter­ There is a nominal entrance fee. sequently ignored for 200 years. In the late mittently since that time. 1700's Franciscan priests discovered what are Gold panning is permitted in the believed to be the Arivaca, Baboquivari, and In 1863 a member of a group led by Capt. Pauline park, but traditional "rock collecting" is not allowed. No mechanized equipment Quijotoa Placers in southern Arizona. Produc­ Weaver found gold nuggets in a most unlikely may be used, nor may plants be dis­ tion possibly was signifIcant, but without records place in the Bradshaw Mountains in Yavapai turbed. Any holes or other evidence of we can only speculate. panning activity should be obliterated before leaving. The drainages that empty into the northern end of the lake are the most promising for panning. The Agua Fria River, Humbug Creek, Coles Wash, and Castle Creek historically have had good placer gravels. Portions of this area are closed to vehicular traffic within the park boundaries. Outside the park boundaries land status becomes a problem. Some of the area is State land and gold pan­ ning is not permitted without acquiring a State Lease. The area north of the lake is covered by the Governors Peak 7.5" topographic map. Roads and jeep trails are shown on the map, but not land status. To 1-11 vi. Car.f ••• HlghWlY Lake Pleasant, at an elevation of 1500 feet, can be very hot in summer, but tempera­ tures are generally moderate the rest of the LEGEND year. Water, restrooms, and concessions are Park Boundary '1"10",=,_.1"'11 N available at select areas of the park. For fur­ Figure 2. Gold dredge operating on Lynx Creek. 1933. Photo courtesy ofArizona Geological Survey. ther information call the Maricopa County Stream Parks and Recreation Department at 272- Scale: 1" = 1 mile A 8871. U. S. FOREST SERVICE Gold Panning in Arizona 3 Figure 8. LVNX LAKE GOLD PANNING AREA

The u.s. Forest Service ~ PRESC01T has set aside an area for recrea­ " toM. 1-17 -+ tional panning in the heart of the 32 MI. historically rich Lynx Creek placer district. An estimated 125,000 ounces of placer gold have been taken from Lynx Creek since gold was fIrst discovered there in 1863 by mountain • man Joseph Walker. Figure 3. Sharlot Hall. an Arizona pioneer and poet. The Lynx Lake Mineral Withdrawal Area is watches a friend pan on Lynx located approximately 6 miles southeast of Prescott, Creek. circa 1895. Photo cour­ off Highway 69. The recreation area extends over 6 tesy of the Sharlot Hall miles along Lynx Creek. No private claims may be Museum. staked in this area, but unlimited panning is per­ mitted. There is no fee. Gold pans, picks, and shovels are allowed. Mechanized equipment such as sluice boxes, dredges, or wheelbarrows may not be used. Evacuations should not damage the limbs or root systems of live vegetation or destroy the groundcover. County. This is yet another story of a wandering themselves in Arizona history. The story of their This area is over 5,000 feet in elevation so burro leading to a valuable mineral discovery. winters are cold. Spring, fall, and summer tempera­ remarkable journey makes interesting reading. tures are moderate. Lynx Creek generally flows year­ These accounts would be more questionable ex­ round, but water levels can get low during a drought. cept for the fact that there were a great many Despite Indian attacks, transportation diffIculties Camping and picnic facilities are available at Lynx burros around in those days, and it is in the nature and communication problems, the period be­ and Hilltop Campgrounds within the recreation area near Lynx Lake. of burros to stray. This particular burro led the tween 1860 - 1880 was the most active and Weaver party up to the top of a small mesa where, productive period of placer mining in the State. in one day, the group picked up over 200 ounces All of the major placer districts were worked at of nuggets. Rich Hill, as it came to be called, was this time, including Greaterville, La Paz, the richest placer discovery in Arizona history, Chemehuevis, Lynx Creek, Big Bug, Humbug, with estimates of gold recovery put at 110,000 Turkey Creek, and Gila City. ounces. LEGEND Placer mining continued into the 20th century at Joseph R. Walker and his followers, to avoid a reduced rate, gaining impetu~ during the depres­ Park Boundary nW''''d''''''''W'''' N conscription during the Civil War, set out across sion of the 1930's. World War II was a major Stream ------Death Valley in 1861. After traveling through setback for placer mining, as mining efforts A California, Colorado, and New Mexico, they turned to metals more vital to the war effort. Scale: 1" = 1.2 mile eventually made their way through the hostile Placer mining has never reached the pre-war Apache country of central Arizona. Here they levels again. Since the war, placer mining in discovered the Lynx, Humbug, Big Bug, and Arizona has been characterized by many small, Turkey Creek Placers. Many members of the sporadic operations and increasing recreational original Walker party went on to carve names for activity. Gold Panning in Arizona 4

Arizona is currently experiencing a 50-year high Hot Springs Placers 8N lW 33 SW Scorpion Ridge 9N 5W 24 NW Humbug Placers 7N IE 17 E2 Standard Extension 12N IE 26 NW in placer activity. Since the lifting of the U. S. Jack Ass llN IE 34 S2 Star Patent 12N IE 16 C government's fixed price for newly-mined gold IDRNo.I-3 13N 2W 33 S2 T P Placers 13N 4W 28 ALL in 1968, the restoration of the right of citizens to Jo Placer 8N 2E 4 E2 Texaco Claim 9N 2E 29 NE own gold in . 1975, and numerous changes in Joe Ben 13N lW 36 S2 Turkey Bend 12N IW 8 NE world economics, gold prices have risen to a level JOM D Placer 8N 2E 9 SE Unaco 9N 5W 14 W2 that makes gold exploration much more attrac­ K Placers 8N 5W 9 C Vale 9N 2E 17 C Velvet Star 8N 5W 21 S2 tive. Kody Placers 12N lW 17 C Lawson 12N IE 8 SE War Eagle 9N 4W 6 W2 Lillian and Upton Placers ION 5W 36 C Weaver and Rich Hill ION 4W 32 C Little Mint 12N 4W N2 White Butte Placers 8N 2W 15 C Lone Pine Group ION 3W 24 C Willys 1-4 Placer 12.5N lW 28 SE Lot2 Patent 12N 2E 31 NW Yankee Girl Placers 13N IW 35 NE AVERAGE YEARLY GOLD PRICE Lucky Monday 8N 2W 28 NE Lucky Nugget ION 2E 33 SW YUMA COUNTY Lynx Creek Placer 14N lW 24 S2 BCHM Placers 7S 2lW 31 Lynx Lake Withdrawal 13N 1W 5 E2 700 Castle Dome Placers 4S 18W 35 N2 Maharaja of Rowdy Doe 12N 2W 27 W2 Gila City Placers 8S 21W Marine Placers No. 1-8 8N 4W 5 NW Golden Eagle Placer IS 17W 34 C Mary Copper 12N IE 8 E2 Kofa Gold Placers 2S 16W 7 C 600 Maybe ION 5W 24 SE Laguna Dam Prospects 7S 22W 23 N2 Mendenhall Placers lIN 2W 20 N2 Laguna Placers 7S 21W 28 N2 Merrill Placers South 9N 5W 24 C McPhaul Placers 7S 21W 33 S2 500 Merrill, RM 9N 4W 6 W2 SW Muggins Mtns 8S 20W 11 SW Messick Placer 8N IE 30 NE Vinegaroon Wash Placers 7S 19W 16 SE Miget Placer 9N 2E 35 SW Monarch Placer 8N 4W 7 C 400 Nelson Placers 12N IW 24 S2 New Year Placer 7N 3W 2 NW No Clounds 1-10 8N 3W 35 ALL 300 Nugget Patch 14N lW 34 S2 Oak Creek Placer 9N 2W 8 N2 Ojos Bonitos 9N 2E 17 SW 200 Old Joe Group 12N IE 22 S2 Old Kentuck 9N lW 9 NE Old Placers 14N 9W IS S2 Palmer Placer 9N 5W 12 E2 100 Patented Placers 2239 9N 2E 27 SW Peehan Wash Placer 7N 3W 2 C Peoria Placers 12N 3W 19 N2 o Placer 56B 12N IW 5 SE Placer 56C 12N 1W 5 SE Placer 57B 12N IE 6 NE US$ per troy ounce Placerita & French Gulch lIN 3W 18 N2 Placers 14N lOW 27 NW Princess Patent 13N IE 33 SW Ranch Challenge Claims 9N 3W 26 W2 Red Bird Placer 12N 2E 31 SW Red Twister ION 5W 25 SW Figure 4. Average yearly gold price using London prices. The average price prior to 1934 was $20.00. between 1935-68. Rich Hill Placers ION 4W 32 SW Figure 7. Scatter map showing Arizona placer gold about $35. Ruby 13N 2W 32 SW occurrences. Gold Panning in Arizona 5

KingTut 29N 17W 9 NE YAVAPAI COUNTY Lone Jack Placer 29N 17W 15 E2 Alto lIN 5W 21 SE ORIGIN OF PLACER GOLD Mexican Diggings 14N 20W 23 American Selco Permit 12N IE 16 NW NorthStar ION 15W 4 SE Apostles Doctrine ION 5W 29 ALL GOLD FACTS AND FIGURES Oatman One Placer 19N 21W 12 SE Bager Placer ION 2E 25 NE The gold in placer deposits in Arizona is derived Old Placer 29N 19W 24 SE Big Foot, Little Joker 12N lW 29 NE from veins and other hardrock deposits dis­ Oro Rico Placers 29N 17W 34 NE Bimetals lIN IE 35 SW tributed through the bedrock of select mountain Gold is a native element with the sym­ Placers 22N 21W 30 Black Canyon Placers 9.5N 2E 32 SE ranges. In a process occurring at various times bol Au. QueenTut 30N 17W 4 NE Box Placer ION 5W 25 C throughout Arizona's geologic past, but prin­ Rein Placer 29N 18W 30 NE 2W 28 NE Buckhorn Property 8N cipally during the Precambrian, Laramide, and Robeson and Joy 30N 17W 4 C BumbleBee 9.5N 2E 20 E2 It has a hardness of2.5 to 3 on the Mohs Sandy Harris Placer 29N 22W 29 C Button Minnehaha Placers ION 2W 22 N2 mid-Tertiary time, mineralized fluids ascended Scale, about the same as a copper penny. Temple Bar 31N 21W 25 Buzzard and Raven 12N 2W 4 SW along cracks and fissures in the existing rocks, United Oatman 19N 20W 33 SE Carpenter, Swilling 8N IE 7 C precipitating gold and other mineral constituents The luster is metallic, the color and Unknown Placer 25N 22W 29 C Carter Ranch Placers lIN 3W 15 SE into veins or other bodies as lode deposits. It is streak are golden yellow. Wright Creek Placers 23N 12W 24 C Castle Creek Placers 7N lW 14 W2 predominantly these lode deposits that are the Copper Creek Placers 13N 3W 32 SW source of placer gold in Arizona. Native gold is 14 to 19 times heavier PIMA COUNTY Coyote Wash Placers 15N IE 21 E2 than an equal volume of water. Aguajito Placers 18S 10E 12 N2 Davenport Placer 12N 3W 27 N2 Gold must be freed from its host rock before it can Amargosa Wash Placers 18S 12E 14 C De Stories Permit lON 3W 17 SW Apex 19S 16E 30 De Vault Placers lON 4W 18 S2 be concentrated as placer gold. The disintegration It is estimated that gold has been mined Argonaut Placer Group 19S 16E 17 W2 Del Rio Placers 17N 2W 25 W2 of the rocks in which the gold veins are confined since 18,000 Be. Ash Creek Gold Placer 18S 10E 12 SE Delta 12.5N 2W 26 S2 is a slow process, in human terms, accomplished Devils Nest lON 4W 31 SE Ash Creek Placers 18S 10E 12 S2 by uplift of the area, erosion, and weathering. Gold is the most malleable metal, it can Canada Del Oro Placers lIS 14E 21 NW Don Alexander Claims 12.5N 2W 26 SE Wind, rain, frost, chemical action, earth move­ Donna 1 and 2 9N 2E 17 NE be hammered into foi13/1 ,000,000 of an Colchis Placer Group 19S 16E 19 NE ment, and changes in temperature are the agents Devils Wash Placer 15S 2E 2 ALL Dos Caballeros 9N 4W 8 S2 inch thick. in this process. Gold, resistant to weathering, is Edna J Placer 19S 8E 32 C Double V Placers 13N lW 33 N2 Greaterville Placers 19S 16E 16 SE Dredge Area 13N lW 5 SE liberated as the surrounding rock is reduced to Gold is the most ductile metal, one Horseshoe Basin 15S 2E 14 SW Easy To Get 12N 2W 12 SW gravel, sand, silt, and clay. ounce can be drawn into a wire 35 miles Horseshoe Gold Placers 15S 2E 24 W2 Ed Schrecks Placers 13N lW 16 S2 long. Laguna Placer 19S 16E 18 SE Enkeboll Placer 13N IE 22 SW Running water is the dominant agent in transport­ Las Guijas Gold Placers 20S lOE 25 C Five Corners Claim 12N lW 5 E2 ing and concentrating placer gold once the native White gold is produced by adding nick­ Linda Lee Claims 15S 2E 12 SW Fourth of July Claim 8N 2E 29 N2 gold has been freed from the bedrock source. Mission Mine 16S BE 31 NW Gladhart Placers 8N IE 7 SW el' pink gold by adding copper. Old Pennsylvania Placer 19S 15E 25 SE Gold Palace Placers 12N lW 19 W2 Placer deposit formation most often takes place San Juan Wash Placers 18S lOE 25 C Golden Bar 7N lW 21 SW during times of flood. "Fineness" defines gold content in parts San Luis Wash Gold 21S 9E 34 C Golden Goose lON 4W 29 W2 per thousand. Sawmill Canyon Placers 19S 15E 20 C Golden Gravel 9N 4W 5 NW Occasionally placer deposits are formed at the site Tascuela Wash Placers 18S lOE 13 NW Golden Web #1 7N 2W 18 NW of the original lode occurrence as eluvial deposits, Good Hope Patent 12.5N lW 21 NW "Karat" indicates the portion of gold in Granite Creek Placers 13N 2W 20 N2 but more often the gold particles are transported, an alloy based on a total of 24 parts. SANTA CRUZ COUNTY H.E.S. No. 81 11.5N IE 22 C concentrated, and deposited by the moving water Alamo Mine 23S lOE 10 SW H.E.S. No. 6 12N IE 1 SW of streams and rivers into alluvial deposits. Un­ California Gulch 23S lIE 20 E2 Placer gold in Arizona commonly runs Happy Days 12N lW 27 SE derground, or buried placer deposits, recovered Condition Placer 23S lOE 15 S2 810 - 890 fine. The remainder is Happy Joy and Sidewinder 9.5N 2E 21 NW Nogales Placers 23S 14E 16 SW by drift mining, occur as the result of sediments generally silver. Harlan 12.5N 2W 36 NW Oro Escondido 23S lIE 19 SE or volcanic flows covering and preserving placer Hassayampa Gold Basin 12N 3W 11 S2 Patagonia Placers 23S 16E 16 N2 Hassayampa Placers 12N 3W 33 E2 deposits. Tyndall Placers 21S 14E 35 SW Home Placer Patent 13N lW 5 NE Homestead Mine 12.5N lW 24 N2 Horseshoe Bar 8N 2E 16 NE Gold Panning in Arizona 6 Table 3. PLACER GOLD OCCURRENCES

There is rarely a fixed relation between the rich­ parison, is 1:2.6. The reasons for Arizona's low Placer deposits occasionally run for miles along a stream, therefore, the legal descriptions ness of a placer deposit and the richness of the ratio are not completely understood. The lack of listed below are often centralized points. They were compiledfrom the Arizona Mineral Industry original lode deposit. Some highly productive water for large-scale hydraulic placer mining has Location System (AzMILS). placers have no known "mother-lode", while certainly played a role. Another factor could be some rich lode districts have formed no sig­ the relatively young age of some of the Arizona nificant placer deposits. However, even though lode deposits, with the subsequent lack of time for there is not ordinarily a high relationship between erosion to produce placers. Probably the biggest Oro Fino Placers 4N 20W 26 C specific lode deposits and specific placer factor is that much of Arizona's past gold produc­ COCHISE COUNTY Plumosa Placers 3N 18W 4 NW 4 Saunders Placers 3N 18W 4 SE deposits, most areas have a high correlation be­ tion has been as a by-product of copper mining. Ash Canyon Placers 24S 21E 6 NW Spot Placers 3N 18W 3 NW tween lode gold production and placer gold By far, the most exciting possibility, is that Buckeye Placers 13S 27E 26 NE Dos Cabezas Placers 145 28E 10 C Trigo Placers 2S 23W SW production. Arizona has substantial, but as yet undiscovered, Wooden Dollar 4N 20W 33 Gold Star 15S 28E 10 placer deposits. Yellow Dollar 3N 21W 22 NW Highlife Claims 13S 19E 35 SW This is not the case in Arizona where the ratio of Yaqui Placer 24S 20E 1 E2 total placer gold production to total lode gold MARICOPA production is 1:36. California's ratio, for com- COCONINO COUNTY Arizona Placers 5N 3W 1 S2 Lees Ferry Gold 40N 8E 18 NW Beveridge Placer 6N 4W 6 Brown Magnetite 4N 9W 29 C Desert Flower Placer 6N 4W SE GILA COUNTY Divide Pat. Claim 4321 3N 3E 22 NE 5W Barbarossa Placers 3S 15E 31 Gold Nugget 6N 5W 16 N2 Diamond Butte Placer 9N 12E 11 W2 Hanson 7N 3W 20 NW Diamond Claims 1-4 IN 13E 3 Honda Bow Claims 6N 3E 16 SE Dripping Spring Placers 35 15E 30 NE Ironwood Placer 5N 6W 25 C Ebner Claims IS 15E 24 NE Little Cate 7N 3W 33 NW Gold Bug Placer M5 3045 IN 15E 17 SE Little Pan 8N 2E 29 NE Haunted Canyon Placers 23 C IN BE Lotowana 7N 4W 26 5E Hoopes Placer 2N 15E 31 C Malibu Placer 7N 4W 28 S2 14E NE Lost Gulch Placers IN 15 Martha and Son Placer 7N 4W 33 5E Ousley Claim 4N lOE 9 C Mauck-Tyler Placer 8N 2E 32 NW Oxbow Property lOE 32 C ION Payday 7N 3W 22 NE Payson Placers 9N IDE 5 E2 Sando 7N 3W 28 NW Six Shooter Claims IS 15E 24 E2 Sunrise Relief 4N IE 4 5E Thompson Property lON lOE 31 C Sunset No.1 & 2 IN 5E 9 NW Three Fools 7N 4E 33 C GREENLEE COUNTY Clifton Morenci Placers 3S 30E 31 5E MOHAVE COUNTY Apache Oro 30N 17W 17 NW LA PAZ COUNTY Arizona Gold 20N 17W 6 NE American Coarse Gold 4N 20W 27 Bonanza Mine 20N 20W 32 SE Colorado River Placers 3S 23W 36 52 Boulders Creek Placers 20N 17W 10 Farrar Gulch Placers 4N 21W 36 NW Calizona Placer Channel 14N 19W 20 Golden Crest 4N 20W 35 ALL Chemehuevis Placers 15N 18W 9 Granite Wash 5N 14W 20 C Climax 30N 17W 33 S2 La Cholla Placers 3N 20W 11 C Gold Basin Placers 29N 18W 29 SE La Paz Placers 4N 21W 26 NW Gold Roads Placer 19N 20W 2 5W Livingston Placer 3N 18W 11 Golden Nugget 30N 17W 33 NE Figure 5. Hydraulic placer operation on Lynx Creek. circa 1890. Photo courtesy of Sharlot Hall Museum. Melfem Placer 3N 20W 14 Golden Queen No.6 29N 18W 19 NW Middle Camp Gold Placers 4N 20W 21 C Hualapai Placer Claims 20N 14W 6 Murry Placer 3N 18W 10 C Hualapai Valley Placers 30N 17W 29 Gold Panning in Arizona 10 Gold Panning in Arizona 7

Prospecting clubs are an excellent way to learn Status and Ownership, Arizona Mineral and WHERETO GO Specific areas of the State have been set aside for about gold panning and places to pan. Many of Water Rights to aid in the determination of owner­ recreational use that includes gold panning. At the organizations have their own claims or ship status. The following is a brief summary of Lynx Lake near Prescott and Lake Pleasant near properties for use by members. This eliminates the procedure. Two steps are involved in locating a place to pan Phoenix, unlimited panning is allowed, but no the worry of trespassing and ensures you will be for gold. First, you must fmd an area that is claims may be staked. Figure 8 and Figure 9 panning in a promising location. Joining a club Through the use of a USGS topographic or Forest favorable for placer gold to occur, and second, provide maps and information for these areas. also provides educational and social benefits. A Service map to determine a legal description you must determine if you are allowed to pan These historically productive sites are ideal for list of prospecting organizations is available from (township, range, and section), the mineral status there. The ftrst part is the easiest. beginning as well as experienced panners. the Department or the Arizona Mineral Museum of a particular site may be obtained from the U. and many of the gold panning equipment stores. S. Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Land Although placer gold has been found in almost all Management's State Office (Table 3). Sur­ areas of the State, the most productive districts are The third, and most difficult method of finding a face/mineral management maps, available from in the central and southeastern portions. All of the panning area, is to research the ownership of the BLM, can be a useful tool for general deter­ major streams and their tributaries that flow surface and mineral rights of a particular location mination of land status, but do not list mining across gold-bearing areas are likely to carry gold. to see if it is available for mineral entry. The claims. Where placer gold has been found in the past is determination of whether lands are open to min­ the best place to seek it today. Favorite spots over ing, for either recreational or economic purposes, If the determination shows Federal land open to the years have been the Hassayampa River, is a complex process and will not be addressed in mineral entry, then the Arizona Mining Claim Patagonia, Cave Creek, the Bradshaw Mountains, this publication. Index should be checked to see if there are exist­ Lynx Creek, Big Bug Gulch, Humbug, and Lake ing claims. If there are no existing claims, a claim Pleasant. A map of the Arizona placer districts For a comprehensive review of State and Federal may be staked or gold may be panned without (Figure 6) shows where historic production has mining laws, a publication entitled Laws and ftling a claim. If there is a valid, existing claim, been concentrated. Table 2 is a listing of USGS Regulations Governing Mineral Rights in please respect it and continue your search for open topographic maps corresponding to each of the Arizona is available from the Department of locations. You may consider contacting the claim placer districts listed on the map. Mines and Mineral Resources. The Department owner for permission to pan, or the possibility of also publishes Manual for Determination of leasing or buying the claim. The individual mines that make up the placer districts are listed in Table 3. These 247 occurren­ ces, compiled from the Arizona Mineral Industry Location System database of the Department of Mines and Mineral Resources, are also plotted on a scatter map to show distribution (Figure 7). The variety of claim names add interest to the listing. Names such as Easy To Get, One More Time, Martha and Son, reveal the whimsical or sen­ timental side of miners. A legal description (township, range, section, and quarter section) is provided for each mine.

These maps and tables give a fairly accurate pic­ ture of the known placer gold distribution in the State. Determining which of these areas are open for gold panning is the remaining problem. There are two simple solutions and one complex one. Illustration courtesy of the California Historical Society. Figure 6. Major Arizona Placer Gold Districts Gold Panning in Arizona 9

MOHAVE COCONINO NAVAJO APACHE Table 2. USGS Topographic Quadrangle Maps for Arizona Placer Districts

DISTRICT DISTRICT

Ajo Ajo - 15 min. Payson Payson - 7.5 min. Alder Canyon Buehman Canyon - 7.5 min. Plomosa Quartzsite - 15 min. Arivaca Arivaca - 7.5 min. Quijotoa Quijotoa - 15 min. Flagstaff Baboquivari Chiuli Shaik - 7.5 min. Rich Hill Yarnell- 7.5 min. Barbarossa-Drip­ EI Capitan - 7.5 min. San Domingo Red Picacho - 7.5 min. ping Springs San Francisco Oatman - 7.5 min. Big Bug Creek Groom Creek - 7.5 min. San Francisco River Guthrie - 7.5 min. Big Horn Big Hom Mts - 15 min. Sierrita Mountains Batamote Hills - 7.5 min. Bisbee-Warren Bisbee - 7.5 min. Tank Mountains Engesser Pass - 7.5 min. Black Canyon Black Canyon City -7.5 min. Trigo Picacho NW - 7.5 min. Cababi Sells East - 7.5 min. Turkey Creek Battle Flat - 15 min. Castle Dome Castle Dome Mts - 15 min. Tyndall-Palmetto Patagonia - 7.5 min. Cave Creek Cave Creek - 7.5 min. Vulture Vulture Mountains - 15 min. Phoeni. Chemehuevis Topock - 7.5 min. ® YUMA Clifton-Morenci Clifton - 15 min. <3> Colorado River The Temple - 7.5 min. PINAL Copper Basin Wilhoit - 7.5 min. Courtland-Gleeson Outlaw Mtn. - 7.5 min. Dos Cabezas Dos Cabezas - 7.5 min. Ellsworth Hope - 15 min. COCHISE Eureka Bagdad - 7.5 min. TUC8~O ® Gila City Laguna - 7.5 min. LEGEND Gila River Gila Box - 7.5 min. Globe-Miami Pinal Peak - 7.5 min. D -OVER 10,000 oz. PRODUCTION Gold Basin Gamet Mtn - 15 min. o -UNDER 10,000 oz. PRODUCTION Granite Creek Groom Creek - 7.5 min. Greaterville Empire Ranch - 7.5 min. Hassayampa Weaver Creek - 7.5 min. 1. Payson 19. Sierrita Mountains 37. San Domingo 2. Globe-Miami 20. Baboquivari 38. Cave Creek Humbug Creek Minnehaha - 7.5 min. 3. Barbarossa-Dripping Springs 21. Cababi 39. Weaver Kingman Kingman - 7.5 min. 4. Clifton-Morenci 22. Quijotoa 40. Humbug Creek Kirkland Weaver Peak - 7.5 min. 5. San Francisco River 23. Ajo 41. Black Canyon Kofa Kofa Butte - 15 min. 6. Gila River 24. Gila City 42. Turkey Creek 7. Old Hat 25. Muggins Mountains 43. Hassayampa La Paz La Paz Mtn - 7.5 min. 8. Alder Canyon 26. Luguna 44. Kirkland Laguna Laguna Dam - 7.5 min. 9. Dos Cabezas 27. Castle Dome 45. Copper Basin Lynx Creek Groom Creek - 7.5 min. 10. Courtland-Gleeson 28. Trigo 46. Big Bug Creek Middle Camp Middle Camp Mtn - 7.5 min. 11. Bisbee-Warren 29. Tank Mountains 47. Granite Creek 12. Huachuca 30. Kofa 48. Lynx Creek Muggins Mountains Welton - 7.5 min. 13. Patagonia 31. La Paz 49. Eureka Nogales Rio Rico - 7.5 min. 14. Nogales 32. Middle Camp 50. Chemehuevis Old Hat Oracle - 15 min. 15. Tyndall-Palmetto 33. Plomosa 51. San Francisco Oro Blanco Ruby - 7.5 min. 16. Greaterville 34. Ellsworth 52. Kingman 17. Oro Blanco 35. BigHorn 53. Colorado River Patagonia Harshaw - 7.5 min. 18. Arivaca 36. Vulture 54. Gold Basin