A Primer for Hunting the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine

[Oroblanco]

HOLA amigos,

For the benefit of anyone new to treasure hunting, interested in searching for the Lost Dutchman gold mine, I thought perhaps we could present some kind of "primer" to help.

A prospective treasure hunter likely already has read or heard the story, or maybe many of the stories which are available. There is even a movie based on the Lost Dutchman, "Lust for Gold" starring Glenn Ford as the "Dutchman". https://www.blockbuster.com/movies/lust-for-gold.html <No, I don't get kickbacks, the movie is available elsewhere online, just do a "Google" search.> In case the reader does not know the story, here are a few links

http://www.theoutlaws.com/gold1.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Dutchman's_Gold_Mine
http://www.ajpl.org/aj/superstition/ldm.htm <much at this site for further research>
http://www.prairieghosts.com/dutchman.html

...again MUCH more is available online and right here at Treasurenet in other threads.

The area of the search is desert mountains, so learn a bit on how to navigate and camp safely in rough desert terrain. Most of the area is within the "Superstition Mountains Wilderness Area" which has special restrictions, including the fact that it is closed to mineral entry, so if you should find the mine you may well not be able to get legal ownership of it. No motorized vehicles are allowed within the Wilderness Area, it is by foot or horseback. <Or mule of course! >

Be sure to have good topographic maps of the area with you, I recommend the 7.5 minute quadrangles which have the greatest detail, though it takes more map sheets to cover the whole area it is a good investment. There may be other restrictions in force at times, so check with the US Forest Service before going.

Tonto National Forest website (manages Superstitions Wilderness)
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/wilderness/wilderness-superstition-index.shtml

United States Geological Survey, best topographic maps
http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod/maps.html

Now for CLUES and MAPS to help you locate the lost gold mine of Jacob Waltz, here are some leads

100 Clues to find the mine
http://www.lostdutchmanmines.com/index.html <scroll down a bit to see the list>

Over 60 treasure maps - perhaps one leads to the Lost Dutchman?
http://www.ajpl.org/aj//museum/treasm.htm

The infamous Peralta Stones, thought by some to be maps to the Lost Dutchman or Peralta mines
http://www.desertusa.com/ldm-1/peralta.html

I highly recommend the beginner learn at least basic prospecting, and how to identify gold and gold ore. Here is a photo of a matchbox, made from ore found beneath the deathbed of Jacob Waltz

Here is a site with good photos of gold ore of various types and origins, quite informative
http://nevada-outback-gems.com/prospect/gold_specimen/Gold_ores.htm

USGS pamphlet on how to prospect
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/prospect2/prospectgip.html

Idaho Bureau of Mines publication on how to prospect and develop small mines, yes it is on Idaho but the information on mining and prospecting is valuable anywhere
http://www.idahogeology.org/PDF/Bulletins_(B)/B-20.pdf

Same source, good information on prospecting for gold
http://www.idahogeology.org/PDF/Pamphlets_(P)/P-36.pdf

I am sure that many of our members here can add MUCH more and better sources for the beginner, such as a list of books and I hope each of you will do so.

Good luck and good hunting amigos, I hope you find the treasures that you seek!
Oroblanco

 

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[Springfield]

Nice post - I'll bet you have a mighty fat file on this legend. For a newbie, I can't think of a better starting point than The Lost Dutchman Mine of Jacob Waltz - Part 1: The Golden Dream, by T.E. Glover.

 

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

Listening an eyeballing.

Don Jose de La Mancha

 

[Cubfan64]

Thanks for the links Oro - especially the geology/mining/prospecting ones. I'm far from being an expert in ANY field of study, but I'm ESPECIALLY ignorant in those subjects specifically and if I can ever get real life to slow down a little bit, I'm going to have to start learning more!
Paul

 

[Oroblanco]

Thank you for the kind words amigos, it is my attempt to contribute something to our avocation. I won't try to pretend that I am an expert on the Lost Dutchman, we have the genuine article here amongst our members - just thought this is one angle that I might be able to help in. Beth and I do have a fair amount of info on the Lost Dutchman, certainly not as much as some of our members here have however.

What about some other books you experienced Dutch-hunters might recommend or DIS-recommend? I will recommend a couple just to get the ball rolling, and a web site with a fairly comprehensive list. Thank you all in advance,

The Lost Dutchman Mine by Sims Ely
http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Dutchman-Mine-Sims-Ely/dp/0899683037

The Bible on the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine by Helen Corbin
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Th...cob-Waltz/Helen-Corbin/e/9781879356597/?itm=1

A fairly comprehensive list of the numerous books and articles published on the Lost Dutchman
http://www.lost-dutchman.com/dutchman/dutch.shtml

Cubfan - you are most welcome buddy, but beware! Once you start down the dark <EDIT> PRIMROSE path into geology, you will slowly but surely accumulate a mountain of rocks in and around your home - not a good thing to have handy if your wife should get angry with you! Unless of course she is not too accurate throwing them, but with practice even a woman who never threw a stone in her life can soon hit a man's skull at 50 yards on the run. One strategy is to make sure all of your rock samples and specimens are too big and heavy for your spouse to heave with one hand, but again with practice she soon gets a stronger throwing arm, which means you must find ever larger rocks, it is a vicious cycle.

So many treasure hunters become discouraged and even soured, that we sometimes forget there are new treasure hunters whom will follow us and they may even succeed where we have failed. I know that I wish there were some kind of "primer" on the Lost Dutchman when I first started, and there is MUCH misleading and downright false material available to help confuse and befuddle the neophyte treasure hunter. Any advice you old-timers would care to share with our "newbies" would be welcome and appreciated, even if they don't tell you outright. Thanks again, muchas gracias amigos!
Roy ~ Oroblanco

 

[cactusjumper]

As a primer, I would suggest: http://www.thelostdutchmangoldmine.com/

For a number of years it was the best source for all things Dutchman......as well as the Superstition Mountains. IMHO, searching through those post is better than any single book on the market. Peter's LDM Site could not take it's members seeking out the truth, posting it. and folded. The reasons that were floated for that failure are pure poppycock. Ego's killed the site.

The best book ever written on the subject is Dr. Glover's "The Lost Dutchman Mine Of Jacob Waltz, Part 1...." I have Thomas looking in on this site, as well as the LDM Forum, as some of the posts would interest him. With the right questions asked, I would imagine he would reply.

Any book written by Tom Kollenborn is full of the history and legends of the Superstition Mountains.
Tom is someone who has been there and done that! His next book should be titled "Hell, I Was There". Unfortunately Elmer Keith used that title a number of years ago.

This is a nice, easy going topic.

Take care,

Joe

 

[Oroblanco]

Thank you for the excellent replies, and recommendations! What about some advice for our neophytes on camping in the Superstitions? Any suggestions on what to bring, what not to bring, best time of year, etc? (I personally recommend late winter or very early spring for the nicest temperatures and fewest venomous critters, but a friend of mine thinks the hottest part of summer is best) Thank you in advance,

One more "bit" for the beginner - there IS gold in the Superstition mountains, if you search diligently and carefully you will find some. The trick is finding a lot of it! Also, here are a few suggested reads which will give you a better idea of the geology of the Superstitions. (These are also posted in other threads)

Mineral resource potential of the Superstition Wilderness and contiguous roadless areas, Maricopa, Pinal, and Gila Counties, Arizona <USGS>
http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/usgspubs/ofr/ofr83885

Mineral investigation of the Superstition Wilderness and contiguous RARE II Further Planning Areas
http://www.mines.az.gov/DigitalLibrary/USBM_MLA/USBM_MLA_136-82.pdf

<EDIT> sorry about this one, it is not available online or paper copy.
Analyses of rocks and stream sediments of the Superstition Wilderness, Arizona
http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/usgspubs/ofr/ofr78483
...if you can locate a copy in a library, it is interesting and helpful.


WHOOPS - EDIT forgot this one, a brief description of the <known> gold deposits of Arizona
http://www.nuggetshooter.com/articles/ArizGoldDeposits.html


Thank you again,
Roy ~ Oroblanco

 

[cactusjumper]

Roy,

For anyone interested in more information on Waltz's gold, the match safe......etc., I would suggest you check out this interesting thread/topic:

http://www.thelostdutchmangoldmine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&p=19885#p19885

Wasp's post's contain some new and exciting information.

Take care,

Joe

 

[Salvor6]

Hey Oro, after so many people have searched for and not found the LDM and since it is now a "wilderness area" do you think it is even worth the effort to try to find it? Aren't there any better lost mines to go after?

 

[cactusjumper]

Salvor,

A huge industry has been built around jigsaw puzzles. There is no reward once you have correctly solved it.........except for the satisfaction that you have beaten the mystery.

Take care,

Joe Ribaudo

 

[Oroblanco]

Salvor6 wrote

Hey Oro, after so many people have searched for and not found the LDM and since it is now a "wilderness area" do you think it is even worth the effort to try to find it? Aren't there any better lost mines to go after?

I am in agreement with our mutual friend Cactusjumper <Joe> for the "reward" aspect of hunting the Lost Dutchman, but there is a slim possibility that you might be able to get a special permit to work the mine if you could prove you had indeed found it, OR the possibility that the mine is actually OUTSIDE the Wilderness Area. I am aware that many folks will disagree with me on this, but I am not so sure the mine really is inside the Wilderness Area at all, there are indications which could point elsewhere. Not 100 miles elsewhere or in another state as some have proposed, but outside the boundaries of the Wilderness.

I have to agree with you too Salvor6 - there are numerous other and possibly BETTER mines to go after. Within Arizona are at least 200 lost mines (or ledges, undeveloped placers etc) several of which were very rich indeed. I think the Lost Adams might well be a better mine to hunt than the Lost Dutchman for an Arizona example - yes it is placer instead of hardrock, but placer is easier to work (generally) requiring less equipment. There is even a great "cache" associated with the Adams diggings, a coffeepot FULL of gold, so heavy a man could not lift it, estimated at 200 pounds! If I were to list a few suggestions, oh heck here are a few lost mines I would suggest for any treasure hunter whom would like to be able to own and mine it.

• Arizona - many! Lost Adams, Lost Bronco Canyon, Lost Black Maverick, Lost Pick, Virgin de Guadeloupe, La Purisma Concepcion, etc
• California - Lost Gunsight, Pegleg's Black Gold Nuggets, Lost Cement gold mine, many!
• Utah - Lost Rhodes Mines, Lost Gold of White Cliffs, Lost Potholes Placer
• New Mexico - Lost LaRue or "Padres" mine, Lost Turquoise numerous lost Spanish mines
• Nevada - Lost Sheepherder's Ledge, Lost Hardin silver mine
• Colorado - Lost Topaz Mine of Devil's Head, Lost Dutchman (different from AZ) Lost Crazy Swede Mine, Lost La Ventana Mine Lost Stewart Placer, many!
• Oregon - Lost Blue Bucket gold mine, Lost Diamond Mine of Columbia co, Lost Tillamook mine, Lost Two Frenchmen, quite a few others
• Washington - Lost Shovel Creek mine, quite a few others I can't recall offhand
• Idaho - Lost Swim Ledge, quite a few others <memory failing me at the moment>
• Montana - Lost Red Lodge gold, numerous others
• Wyoming - Lost Cabin Mine, Lost Jade of Medicine Bow, a few others
• South Dakota - Lost Cabin (different) Lost GT Lee Placer, Lost Standoff Bar, Lost Silver of Rainbow Canyon, quite a few others
• Texas - Lost Ben Sublett gold mine, Lost San Saba Mines and a few others mostly in the western end of the state
• Alaska - Lost Gold Boulders (or Rogers) Placer, Lost Lake of Gold, many!

This is just a sampling - there are literally well over 1000 lost mines and ledges scattered over the western USA, not counting hundreds more in the east or the hundreds in Mexico and Canada. The Lost Dutchman gets all the attention because it is so popular and has been on TV and movies, and folks work to KEEP it popular and lost. It is good for local business. Anyway yes there are many other lost mines which are really better odds for the treasure hunter, and could pay off well.

Good luck and good hunting Salvor6 and everyone, I hope you find the treasures that you seek.
your friend in 'Dakota Territory'
Roy ~ Oroblanco

 

[Oroblanco]

MORE online info - should have posted this one FIRST, anyone searching for the Lost Dutchman gold mine would find it very helpful. (Also for that matter, for ANYONE who wants to hunt for a lost mine, it pays to learn some basic geology and learn about the known mines of the country)

Arizona Lode Gold Mines and Gold Mining, revised 1967, E.D. Wilson, J.B. Cunningham and G.M. Butler (Bull 137) (free download)
http://www.azgs.az.gov/Mineral Scans/gold_bull137_ocr.pdf
I can't recommend this particular book enough. I wish that all Dutch-hunters would read it.

Gold Placers and Placering in Arizona, reprinted 1981, E.D. Wilson. (Bull 168)
http://www.azgs.az.gov/Mineral Scans/gold_bull168_ocr.pdf

Exploration and Development of Small Mines, 1954, H.E. Krumlauf (Bull 164)
http://www.azgs.az.gov/Mineral Scans/gold_bull164_ocr.pdf

Good luck and good hunting amigos, I hope you find the Lost Dutchman!
Oroblanco

 

[Oroblanco]

Bump for any newbies looking for this info.

 

[waschy]

I'm new to the Lost Dutchman's Goldmine exploration. Who are the veteran treasure hunters that search for the mine daily? Would love to join up with those who devote months to searching for it. Would love contact info so I can join up!

Thanks!

 

[gollum]

Waschy,

For most of them, you have to earn your way into it. A lot of Dutch Hunters are solitary folks. A few group up and hunt together, but most (like me) keep their comings and goings a secret.

For a lot of local information contact:

PROMAC

Best of luck.

Mike

 

[Cubfan64]

Waschy,

For most of them, you have to earn your way into it. A lot of Dutch Hunters are solitary folks. A few group up and hunt together, but most (like me) keep their comings and goings a secret.

For a lot of local information contact:

PROMAC

Best of luck.

Mike

Mike is spot on. I don't mean to come off sounding snotty, so I apologize ahead of time if this sounds that way, but just joining a couple forums and asking who the veterans are that you can join up with to hunt for the mine is NOT going to garner much attention. As with many other things in life, you have to "pay your dues" before you can even hope to hear any of the non-public clues and stories about the LDM, much less be trusted to join up with anyone who may have devoted significant time, effort and money in their search.

On top of that, as Mike said, Dutch Hunters tend to be solitary people - as are most treasure hunters.

The best suggestion I can give you if you are truly interested in the search is to educate yourself as much as possible first about the legend and stories (these forums and others like them are a decent place to start although you will have to wade through much debris to find good information), then politely listen and ask questions, then get out there and show that you can put your boots on the ground and learn the mountains a little bit on your own, and with any luck at that point you might find a person or two who are willing to share some of the more valuable information.

Personally, I think when it comes down to it, treasure hunting in general and LDM hunting specifically are fairly personal and solitary quests for most of us.