Amador County California Gold

Amador County was the most productive of “The Mother Lode” counties. This county produced approximately 6,500,000 ounces of placer gold and 7,700,000 ounces of lode gold. Mining continues today. The richest area in this county is about 1 mile wide across the west central part of the county from the south to the north. The Old Eureka Mine had the deepest shaft in America at 1,3500 feet deep and it was the largest producer in the mother lode in the early days. The Kennedy Mine, Argonaut Mine and Keystone Mines were also large gold mines in the same area. Nowadays, Amador County is famous for it winery’s.

BIG INDIAN CREEK: Sizable dredging and drift operations between 1850 – 1950 produced about 100,000 ounces of placer gold near Fiddletown along Indian Gulch which goes into Big Indian Creek. Big Indian Creek is said to contain placer gold in large quantities. Around the Plymouth area is said to be rich.

DRY CREEK: Off of the beaten path is Dry Creek. It might be worth the hike in. Dry Creek is known for pickers and chunky sized gold.

COSUMNES RIVER :Close to the town of Plymouth, in the west central part of the county there were many placer operations that produced tens of thousands of ounces of placer gold. The Loafer Hill mine, near Oleta, had several small gravel deposits that produced well.

JACKSON CREEK: Near the town of Jackson, you will find the Gwin Mine, it produced lode gold in masses of crystallized arsenopyrite. These are great specimens. Jackson Creek reportedly contains placer gold.

MIDDLE FORK OF THE MOKELUMNE RIVER: Hydraulic operations were located on this river that produced considerable placer gold.

NORTH FORK OF THE MOKELUMNE RIVER: Hydraulic operations were located on this river that produced considerable placer gold. Near Volcano in the west central part of the county around Jackson Gulch and Ranchero Gulch there were some very rich placer deposits.

SOUTH FORK OF THE MOKELUMNE RIVER: Hydraulic operations were located on this river that produced considerable placer gold.

View the original article here

Proposed Mineral Withdrawal on the Chetco River

February 25th, 2010
Fellow Miners:

My name is Kerby Jackson and I am a small scale gold miner, mining historian and author here in Josephine County. Some of you who attend monthly meetings of SWOMA at Pottsville or those of you who frequent online mining communities may know me from www.OregonGoldHunters.com or www.OregonGold.net where I frequently post information about the mining history of this region.
On the following pages, you will find information passed on to me by Mr. Randy Waters of Gold Beach pertaining to a Draft Resolution which the Board of County Commissioners of Curry County recently drafted which calls for seventeen miles of the Chetco River to be withdrawn from mineral entry. Their intent is to request the official support of Congressman Peter Defazio and Senators Wyden and Merkley to enact legislation that would upgrade the Chetco River’s current status as a Wild and Scenic River. Their document states that their request will have no negative impact on our right to engage in varying forms of small scale mining and other activities on the Chetco River, but as has been proven time and time again, we know that this is simply an untrue statement.
On the following pages, you will find a copy of the Draft Resolution written by the Curry County Board of Commissioners, as well as a copy of Randy’s letter to the board opposing their request.

As Randy will not be attending the March 2010 SWOMA meeting at Pottsville, I have taken it upon myself to distribute this information to the miners of this and other counties.

It is our hope, that all of you will take the time to read the accompanying information and to make your feelings known to the Board of Commissioners of Curry County, even if you are not a resident of that county. Please send them a written letter or an e-mail and inform them of your feelings and your concerns. (Written letters get more attention, by the way.)

Though I realize that many of you may feel that what goes on in Curry County may not personally affect you, it is important that we send a strong message to those who would attempt to violate our right to mine and make it clear that we will allow our enemies absolutely no leverage.

Write to them at:

George Rhodes RhodesG@co.curry.or.us

Bill Waddle WaddleB@co.curry.or.us

Georgia Nowlin NowlinG@co.curry.or.us

Or send a letter to:
Curry County Commisioners, PO Box 746 Gold Beach, Oregon 97444

May Your Pans Be Heavy,

Kerby Jackson
Josephine County, Oregon

E-mail: kerby@western-stories.com
Web: www.KerbyJackson.com

This just came across my e-mail: I had to type it all because it was in PDF file and I couldn’t copy. Please note my letter to the 3 commissioners in Curry County. If you all would slam them with letters, it might wake them up.

Draft Resolution

Protecting The National Wild and Scenic Chetco River: A National Treasure and a Key Local Asset.

Whereas the Wild and scenic Chetco River is a key asset to Curry County and our Wild Rivers Coast, providing for our commercial fishing industry, for our sport fishery (including the livelihoods of professional fishing guides), for other recreation of Curry County residents and visitors, and for a pure drinking water supply for the cities of Brookings and Harbor,

Whereas the Wild and Scenic Chetco River is nationally recognized for crystal clear water quality, for a world-class fishery, and for providing the unique recreational opportunity to catch large salmon and steelhead,

Whereas local citizens and local and state agencies have invested considerable effort and funds to restore and maintain fish habitat and water quality in the Chetco River,

Whereas emerging conditions now threaten to degrade the nationally outstanding qualities of the Wild and Scenic reaches of the Chetco River, including our local fishery,

Whereas upgrading the National Wild and Scenic designation would not effect valid rights on existing mineral claims, property of private landowners, timber harvest, recreational gold panning or gravel mining in the river downstream from the wild and scenic reach,

Therefore be it resolved that the Curry County Board of Commissioners urges Congressman Peter Defazio to reintroduce into the U.S. House of Representatives and enact into law his legislation that would upgrade protection for the National Wild and Scenic Chetco River by modifying river classifications on 3.5 miles of the National Wild and Scenic River, as recommended by the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, and by withdrawing from the new mineral entry 17 miles of National Wild and Scenic Chetco River classified as “Scenic” and “Recreational,” thereby fully protecting this critically important national and natural resource for current and future generations of citizens of Curry County, Oregon, and the United States.

Further be it resolved that the Curry County Board of Commissioners urges Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley to introduce and enact into law companion legislation in the United States Senate.

On the following page is Randy’s letter to the Curry County Board of Commissioners.

George Rhodes: RhodesG@co.curry.or.us
Bill Waddle: WaddleB@co.curry.or.us
Georgia Nowlin: NowlinG@co.curry.or.us
PO Box 746 Gold Beach, Oregon 97444

I just read about the commission plannig to ask Representative DeFazio to enact a law closing mining on 17 miles of River and changing designations on other parts of the river. Let me bring to your attention the fact that dredging our rivers is very beneficial to all creatures that reside in our rivers. Dredging losens the hardpacked river bottom making it easier for fish to spawn and it releases nutrients into the water for fish and other residents to feed on. Dredging removes lead and mercury from our waters which is harmful to fish and other residents. Dredging removes gold from our rivers adding NEW money into our country. Dredging brings people from out of our area and they spend money in our communities. They need food, gasoline, machine parts, camping equipment and many other items to function. By closing our rivers to mining you are removing income in our communities. Dredging is only allowed when fish eggs and young fish are not in danger of injury or death. Why do you even consider designating more of our country OFF LIMITS.

Mr. Defazio has turned rogue and needs to be replaced. He has been instrumental in locking up a good portion of Oregon and with our Governors’ help and support, he is trying to close an additional 213 million acres so that I can’t go into these areas. You, the commissioners are aiding in our land and water removal. I ask you to rethink your decision concerning the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

Randy L. Waters
Gold Beach, Or 97444

cowboy444

FREEDOM- is only for those with the guts to defend it!!!

View the original article here

Briggs Creek – Oregon Gold Locations

Briggs Creek is not to be confused with the Briggs Pocket Mine, as they are not even close to one another. Briggs Creek is located on the western side of Josephine County. It is located in the Illinois District and had a total production  from 1852 to 1953 of 5,000 to 10,000 ounces of Oregon placer gold. That is a estimate. Upper Briggs Creek Valley, in section 7, of township 36S and range 8W, you will find the Barr Mine. This was a rich placer operation.

Along lower Briggs Creek, in the area of Red Dog Creek and Soldier Creek, there are some very rich placer gold prospecting locations. On the Northwest side of Briggs Creek, in section 24, of township 36S, and range 9W, you will find the Elkhorn placers, which were very productive.

Placer gold was discovered in Briggs Creek and it’s tributaries in 1852 or 1868 (conflicting accounts), and over 5,000 ounces of gold was recovered from the drainage area. This includes Onion Creek, Red Dog Creek, Secret Creek, Swede Creeks, as well as Briggs Creek itself. The upper part of Briggs Creek, below the Barr lode mine, was especially rich with that Oregon Gold.

View the original article here

Baker County Oregon Gold

In 1861, Henry Griffin discovered gold in Griffin’s Gultch and the great finds of Baker County began. Baker County is responsible for two thirds of the gold found in Oregon. Extremely rich placer deposits and discoveries of near-by lodes have generated over 2,000,000 ounces of gold produced in Baker County.

The Connor Creek District

Connor Creek district produced over 100,000 ounces of  lode gold and 10,000 ounces of placer gold to date. Along Connor Creek you can find some very rich placers. Also on Connor Creek you will find The Connor Creek Gold Mine which produced free gold associated with pyrite.

The Connor Creek Mine in the 1930's

Auburn

In Blue Caynon, there were some rich early day placer gold deposits.

Baker

If you go south of Baker a few miles you will find Griffin Gulch. This was the site of the first gold discovery in Baker County. The Baker District alone produced over 37,000 ounces of gold. Half of that came from placers.

If you go southwest by 4-6 miles from Baker you will find the Dale Mine in the west 1/2 of section 22. The Dale Mine produced free milling gold. In upper Washington Gultch, in sections 20 and 29, you will find The Stub (Kent) Mine which produced lode gold.  At the south end of Elkhorn Ridge in most stream gravels you will find some placer gold.

West of Baker by 6 miles in Township 9S and Range 39E you will find Salmon and Marble Creeks. These creeks had rich early placers, especially by the Nelson Placer. On Salmon Creek, above the Nelson placer diggings, in the SW1/4 section 8 you will find the Carpenter Hill Mine. This was a large producer lode mine. In NE1/4 section 7, in McChord Gultch you will find the Paine-Old Soldier Group of mines (Yellowstone). These mines had a total production of 100,000 ounces of lode gold.

East of Baker by 10 miles, near Virtue Flat, you will find the Virtue District. This district produced over 100,000 ounces of lode and placer gold. All area gultches leading up to the Virtue Mines and White Swan Mines containing abundant placer gold. There are a lot of other productive mines in the area. e.g. (the Brazos, Flagstaff, Hidden Treasure, Carroll B. Cliff, Cyclone, ect.)

Northwest of Baker about 15 miles on the north side of Elkhorn Ridge in upper drainage of Rock and Pine Creeks is the Rock Creek District. The district produced over 60,000 ounces of gold. On the North Fork of Pine Creek, you will find the Baisley-Elkhorn mine. This mine was a principal producer discovered in 1882, with over two miles of underground workings. Two miles west of the Baisley-Elkhorn mine  in the Rock Creek drainage is the Highland and Maxwell mines, which were also major producers of lode gold. The Chloride Club, and Western Union mines were all minor producers.

Copperfield

The Homestead district is located on the east end of Route 86, 67 miles northeast of Baker. The Homestead district is on the Snake River. Here you will find the Iron Dyke Copper Mine which has a total gold production of around 35,000 ounces of gold as a byproduct of the copper mine.

Durkee

23 miles southwest of Baker on US  30, you will find the Burnt Creek District. This district had a total production of at least 50,000 ounces of  lode gold and 3,500 ounces of placer gold. You can find gold in all Burnt River tributary streams and gulches. Shirttail Creek was especially rich.

Southeast of Durkee by 6 to 12 miles, you will find the Weatherby District, straddling US 30 along the Burnt River. North of the highway, along Chicken  and Sisley Creeks was some very important placers and lode mines to Oregon gold mining history.

If you go Southwest from Durkee about 15 miles to the ghost town of Rye Valley, at the heads of  Basin Creek and the south fork of Dixie Creek you will find a very rich area that produced over 200,000 ounces of gold out of both placer and lode sources.

Greenhorn

Fifty miles west of Baker you will find the Greenhorn District. This is located near the ghost town of  Whitney in the east part of the Greenhorn Mountians, with some overlap into Grant County. This district produced over 90,000 ounces of lode gold and 15,000 ounces of placer gold. Most of the streams and gultches around Winterville, Parkerville, and McNammee gultches have had productive placers.

Halfway

52 miles east of Baker on Route 8, near the old ghost town of Cornucopia at the head waters of Pine Creek there was over 300,000 of lode and placer removed. Pine Creek and tributaries are very rich.

Hereford

36 miles southwest of Baker on Route 7, the upper Burnt Creek District, produced about 10,000 ounces of  lode and placer gold. All tributaries to Burnt Creek are very rich.

Medical Springs

18 miles northeast of Baker on Route 203, you can find many very rich streams. Big Creek, Eagle Creek, Powder River, Clover Creek, Balm Creek and Goose Creek all had very rich placer operations at one time.

Richland

40 miles east of Baker on Route 86, along the west drainage of the Snake River between the mouths of the Burnt River and the Powder River you can find some rich Oregon placer gold areas.

Sumpter

Sumpter area is by far the richest placer ground in Baker County. Over 300,000 ounces of placer gold came from the PowderRiver area and tributaries. The Powder River Valley was completly dredged 8 miles by 1 mile wide by bucket dredges. Cracker Creek, McCully fork has extensive placers as well. Buck and Mammoth gulches were very rich. There are thousands of old lode mines in the area, some at elevations of 8,000 feet.

View the original article here

Butte County California Gold

HAMILTON

Gold was first discovered in Butte County California by John Bidwell in the now ghost town known as Hamilton in 1848, and that made Hamilton the first county seat of Butte County. John Bidwell was a local and national figure of that time and the founder of Chico, California and several other towns. He has an outstanding resume as he was among many things, a Brigadier General, served in the California Senate, a Freemason who later left and called the organization “pointless”, and even ran for the election of the presidency of the United States; just to name a few.

John Bidwell in an early photo

Hamilton where the gold was first discovered in Butte county was located on the west side of the river 15 miles downstream of the Feather River from Oroville. Hamilton had a very short duration as a town because they moved the county seat to Bidwells Bar (near Oroville), where they promised to build a new courthouse and jail. The only visible remains of the town of Hamilton is an overgrown cemetery and the remains of an old bridge that once stood there. The post office was closed in 1865. The town of Bidwells Bar is now submerged under the waters of Lake Oroville .

Bidwell Bar 1854 (artist unknown)

OROVILLE

In the old days Oroville was known as Ophir City. Thousands of miners flocked to Oroville in the beginning. It was not the site of a big gold strike, rather it was an important supply point for the miner’s at the now submerged Bidwell’s Bar, but close enough to the historical gold site, that you might find some gold if you prospect around the area.

MAGALIA ( 54 Pound “Dogtown” Gold Nugget)

Established in 1849, Magalia was a mining camp known as Butte Mills. It was also called Dogtown at one time, according to historical maps. It is found in the north-central part of Butte County. The exciting part about this historical site is a 54 pound nugget was unearthed here, at the Willard claim, a hydraulic mine in the Feather River Canyon northeast of the camp. It was the largest gold nugget ever discovered in the world at that time on April 12, 1859. It was named the “Dogtown nugget”. The female residences hated the name Dogtown and renamed it in 1862 to Magalia.  Near Magalia,  is Butte Creek and Little Butte Creek where in 1932 – 1959  15,976 ounces of placer gold was reported to have found. The Perschbaker Mine, found on Little Butte Creek was a major producer of lode gold. The tertiary gravel deposits of Little Butte Creek also have placer gold.

Historical Marker for the Dogtown Nugget

FEATHER RIVER

Of coarse, the Feather River is known to have gold, as many of the locations above were found along the gravel bars and banks of the river. Thompson’s Flat was one of those known locations that had access to gold. Cherokee Flat had placer gold operations. The area around Cherokee City, or anywhere along the Feather River for that matter, has gold. The Yankee Hill district, located at 21N range 4E and 5E,  had a total production of 5,154 ounces of placer gold and 34,427 ounces of lode gold.

In all, it is reported that Butte County, had a production of 3,200,000 ounces of placer gold and 104,000 ounces of lode gold. The Surcease Mine in township 21N range 4E was a good producer of lode gold.

View the original article here