The goldfields of Arizona are some of the most widespread of any state.
Many of the places where people find gold are in creeks and rivers, but the arid desert of Arizona means that you will also find gold in countless dry gulches and vast desert expanses.
But how do you actually find a place to start prospecting? This requires some research work and perhaps a bit of luck on your part. This article covers some of the richest places in Arizona where gold has been found. These are some great starting points.
1. Colorado River
Gold was first discovered on the Arizona section of the Colorado River in 1862 by Pauline Weaver, a discovery which was the genesis of the Colorado River Gold Rush. This led to the creation of the La Paz Mining District covering a radius of some 20 miles on both sides of the river from the site of the original discovery. In the next year, the Weaver mining district was created as more deposits were discovered downstream on Colorado River.
Like most placer mining along rivers, the mining didn’t last long as most of the rich gold ore was quickly mined out. However, the river still has gold that prospectors can find. Gold is almost always extra fine, scattered in the river sand bars.
2. Vulture Mine
The Vulture Mine in Maricopa County of Arizona holds the record as the most productive gold mine in the state. The mine was operated between 1863 and 1942 when it was shut down for the last time. Although mining has stopped at the mine itself, there is still a lot of gold found in the desert surrounding the mine.
Today the mine and the surrounding ghost town is privately owned, but the owner operates tours on the site which adds some adventure to the trip.
Read: This Arizona Gold Mine was the Richest in the State
3. Little San Domingo Placers
These placers are just about an hour away from Phoenix. What makes the little San Domingo placers special is that the gold is widespread over a large area. There are lots of little dry washes to explore.
There are quite a number of active claims in the area but, there are still many open spaces where you can prospect for gold. Historically there have been some nice big nuggets recovered from the LSD placers. A big one is still found occasionally, but there is a lot of small gold too. A sensitive gold detector is your best bet.
4. Oatman
Oatman is an old mining town located in the Black Mountains of Mohave County. Gold was discovered in the area in 1863 by Johnny Moss but mining did not start until early 1900 when new transport technology made it possible for miners and the gold to be transported. The richest gold ore was discovered in 1915 leading to one of the last gold rushes in Arizona.
The last mine closed down in 1941 and by this time mines around Oatman had cumulatively produced gold worth approximately $2.6 billion in today’s value. Today, prospectors still find some nice gold in the surrounding Black Mountains. Oatman is now a very popular tourist town known for it’s feral donkeys that walk the streets of the town.
5. Gold Basin
Gold Basin is another gold bearing regions in Arizona. Gold was discovered here for the first time in the 1870s and mining commenced immediately and continued into late 1930s. What makes the region such a special place for gold prospectors is the fact that it has a hilly terrain with limited water. This means there are still lots of gold nuggets in the old gold mines and claims.
In addition, it doesn’t attract a lot of traffic which makes it ideal for some rich finds. The gold deposits are very widespread. You can still find nice nuggets here if you put in the time.
6. Greaterville
Gold was discovered in the Greaterville in 1874. This created a small boom that brought in many miners which led to a thriving mining town. Water was always a challenge in this area. Ditches were dug to bring in water and work the placers, but there are still a lot of areas that haven’t been thoroughly worked thoroughly.
The original Greaterville townsite is on private property but there are many desert gulches around that have proved to be quite rich for gold prospecting in the recent past.
7. Lynx Creek
Lynx Creek is located in the Prescott National Forest in central Arizona. The creek and a number of its tributaries have been found to be quite rich in gold in recent years. In addition, the availability of water makes it easy to prospect for gold in the creek using basic panning gear. Several miles of the creek have been set aside for recreational prospecting so you don’t have to be concerned about claims or private property.
8. Bradshaw Mountains
The Bradshaw Mountains are located in Yavapai County. The Mountains have a rich history of mining starting in 1863 when Brothers Isaac and William Bradshaw separately discovered gold in the area. However, mining did not start immediately until after 1873 due to the hostility of the local Apache Indians.
Although most commercial mining in the Bradshaw Mountains ended many years ago, the mountains are still home to some of the most productive gold placers in Arizona. People can drywash the countless gulches that come of the mountains and find good gold.
9. Quartzsite
Quartzsite has a rich gold mining history and offers prospectors abundant opportunities to prospect for gold. The area surrounding the Quartzsite town is home to numerous desert gulches and washers that are quite productive. That lack of water means that lots of the gold in this area is still in the ground waiting to be found since it is hard to mine efficiently.
10. Superstition Mountains
The Superstition Mountains are located to the east of Phoenix and offer a great opportunity for you to prospect for gold. The mountains are believed to be home to the Lost Dutchman’s Mine. In 1748 the mountains were acquired by a Mexican cattle rancher Miguel Peralta who discovered a very rich gold ore on the land. However, the hostility of the local Apaches kept them from establishing a mine and his men were killed by the Apaches forcing him to leave the area.
The same ore was also discovered by a German man named Jacob Walz who died before telling anyone the exact location of the mine hence the name the Lost Dutchman’s mine. Over the years many people have been trying to find the lost mine but none has been successful.
11. Chloride
Chloride was one of the earliest silver boom towns in Arizona. When silver prices began to plummet, gold became an important mineral in the area and attracted many miners to set base in the town. The surrounding hills are still rich in minerals. Many prospectors have reported rich recovery of gold nuggets suggesting that there are still lots of minerals in the soils yet to be found.
Next: Crevicing for Gold – Finding Nuggets Deep in the Bedrock