Location: Colorado

Discussion: 150th anniversary of the Colorado Pikes Peak or Bust Gold Rush of 1859Reported This is a featured thread

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AdventureGuide
AdventureGuide
150th anniversary of the Colorado Pikes Peak or Bust Gold Rush of 1859
Jan 24 2009, 4:13 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 24 2009, 4:13 PM EST
Storys about the first miners to Colorado and the incredable specimens they stumbled across.
Lost treasures, old ghost towns, stage robbery, the truth about lynchings, gold prospecting, and gem collecting. History and heritage articles about the colorful figures of the old west Do you find this valuable?    
AdventureGuide
AdventureGuide
1. RE: 150th anniversary of the Colorado Pikes Peak or Bust Gold Rush of 1859
Jan 24 2009, 4:27 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 24 2009, 4:27 PM EST
Back in 1920 or so, while hard rock gold mining in Cripple Creek my Uncle Jack found an incredable vug, big enough for him to stand in! The vug was lined with terminated smokey quartz crystals as big as his forearm. They were after gold, not quartz... he said that all the crystals went out on the tailings pile.
There was wire gold "dripping" from the ceiling, Don't know how much but it was more than Uncle Jack could carry in one load. Do you find this valuable?    
WilliOfTheValley
WilliOfTheValley
2. RE: 150th anniversary of the Colorado Pikes Peak or Bust Gold Rush of 1859
Jan 24 2009, 4:37 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 24 2009, 4:37 PM EST
This sounds like something very interesting to read about & learn from.
Wili Do you find this valuable?    
TallTomSr
TallTomSr
3. RE: 150th anniversary of the Colorado Pikes Peak or Bust Gold Rush of 1859
Jan 24 2009, 4:42 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 24 2009, 4:42 PM EST
"Back in 1920 or so, while hard rock gold mining in Cripple Creek my Uncle Jack found an incredable vug, big enough for him to stand in! The vug was lined with terminated smokey quartz crystals as big as his forearm. They were after gold, not quartz... he said that all the crystals went out on the tailings pile.
There was wire gold "dripping" from the ceiling, Don't know how much but it was more than Uncle Jack could carry in one load. "
So where is that tailings pile,,hmm
Tom Do you find this valuable?    
AdventureGuide
AdventureGuide
4. RE: 150th anniversary of the Colorado Pikes Peak or Bust Gold Rush of 1859
Jan 24 2009, 5:41 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 24 2009, 5:41 PM EST
My grandfather came out in 1887 to work the mines from Missouri, married my grandma who was the daughter of the Dutch Reformed church, Minister C.G. Mayfield. they had my Uncle Jack, Uncle Pic, and Aunt Virginia in a miners shack in the "bedroom community" of Elkton. they all had stories they had heard back in the day... some amazing stuff!
I wish I knew what tailings pile that stuff went into! Do you find this valuable?    
AdventureGuide
AdventureGuide
5. RE: 150th anniversary of the Colorado Pikes Peak or Bust Gold Rush of 1859
Jan 24 2009, 6:05 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 24 2009, 6:05 PM EST
We live about 2 miles north of Clear Creek and a mile or so West of the place where the Ralston party first found gold in Colorado, they were on the Cherokee trail as it was locally known in those days. The site where they camped is actually in town now and the place was commerated by setting it aside and creating Prospector Park.
Not long after, the first discovery of gold was found at the mouth of Cherry Creek where it runs into the South Platte. Another first ever gold in Colorado was at the confluence of Fall River and Clear Creek, just above present day Idaho Springs. They all have a more or less legitamate claim to being the first discovery of gold in Colorado.
Turns out I'm part Shoshoni, and blazing new trails is my chief delight!
Happy Trails,
Johnny Do you find this valuable?    
pvjjh
pvjjh
6. RE: 150th anniversary of the Colorado Pikes Peak or Bust Gold Rush of 1859
Jan 24 2009, 8:04 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 24 2009, 8:04 PM EST
That is interesting. If'n you find out where those tailings are, be sure to let us know. lol

Paul
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AdventureGuide
AdventureGuide
7. RE: 150th anniversary of the Colorado Pikes Peak or Bust Gold Rush of 1859
Jan 25 2009, 7:50 AM EST | Post edited: Jan 25 2009, 7:50 AM EST
Now ya gotta understand... my Uncle Jack was the sort of fella that wouldn't let the truth stand in the way of a good story. He flew west about 20 years ago, but he left a lot of storys for the family ledgend.
However in this case his old buddy Spec Lewis confirmed that this story was actually the truth.
We went to the museum at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, and they had some magnificent pieces of wire gold found in exactly the same conditions as in Jack's story.
It's really a shame that the metal detector won't work on crystals...
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