List of lost mines

The "lost mine" is a popular form of lost treasure legend. Although there are countless examples around the world, several common themes can be traced throughout the various legends. Usually the mines are said to contain valuable elements or minerals such as gold, silver or diamonds. Often there is a map or other document allegedly detailing the history or location of the mine. Common to all the lost mine legends is the idea of a valuable and mysterious resource being lost to history. Some lost mine legends have a historical basis, and some have none. Regardless, the lure of these legends is attested by the many books on the subject, and the popularity of publications such as Lost Treasure magazine.^[1][2]

List of lost mine legends

This list is inexhaustive, but provides some well known examples from around the world.

Africa

• King Solomon's Mines

Australia

• Lasseter's Reef

Brazil

• Muribeca mine^[3]

Canada

• Lost Lemon Mine, Alberta
• Pitt Lake gold find, British Columbia
• Jolly Jack's Lost Mine, British Columbia
• Lost McLeod Mine, Northwest Territories
• Johanssen's Lost Platinum Cache, British Columbia
• Foster's Lost Mine, Vancouver Island
• Lost Christie Lead, British Columbia
• Lost Silver Lead of Monashee Creek, British Columbia

Colombia

• Chivor emerald mine^[4][5]

Mexico

• Lost diamond mine of Vicente Guerrero
• Lost Naranjal mine, Durango
• Planchas de Plata, Sonora, (sometimes called Bolas de Plata).
• Tayopa silver mine, Sonora

Russia

• In the 19th century, gold fever was prevalent in the Ural region near Yekaterinburg. There are many legends of the lost mines, for example in Dmitry Mamin-Sibiryak's stories.
• There are many modern stories of lost diamond mines in the Sakha region of north and northeast Russia^{[citation needed]}

United States

Arizona

• Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine, Arizona
• Iron Door Mine, Arizona

California

• Lost Pegleg mine, California; supposedly found by mountain man "Pegleg" Smith.^[6]
• Lost Breyfogle mine, California or Nevada
• The Lost Cement Mine, California
• The Lost Dutch Oven Mine, California
• Death Valley Scotty's secret mine, California or Nevada
• Lost Gunsight mine, California or Nevada
• Lost Padre mine, southern California

Colorado

• Recluse Goatherder's Gold Mine, Colorado
• Three Skeletons, La Plata County, Colorado Archived 2017-01-31 at the Wayback Machine

Idaho

• The Wheelbarrow Mine, Idaho

Kentucky

• Swift's silver mine, Kentucky

Missouri

• Yocum silver mine, Stone County, Missouri

Nevada

• The Lost Sheepherders Mine, Jarbidge Wilderness, Nevada^[7]

New Mexico

• Lost Adams Diggings, New Mexico or Arizona
• Treasure of Victorio Peak, White Sands, New Mexico

Oregon

• Lost Blue Bucket Mine, Oregon
• Two Frenchmen Mine, Oregon

Texas

• Lost Nigger Gold Mine, Texas
• San Saba mine (sometimes called the Lost Bowie mine or the Lost Almagres mine), Texas

Utah

• Lost Rhoades mine, Utah
• Lost Josephine mine, Utah

Washington

• Danville's Lost Gold Ledge, Washington (state)
• Janni's chimney, Washington (state)
• Lost Doukhobor Ledge, Washington (state)

See also

• List of missing treasures
• Treasure hunting
• Treasure map

References

1. Dobie, J. Frank; Shaw, Charles (1994). Coronado's children: tales of lost mines and buried treasures of the Southwest. Barker Texas History Center series (8. paperback pr ed.). Austin: Univ. of Texas Press. ISBN 978-0-292-71052-8.
2. Jameson, W. C. (1993). Buried treasures of the Rocky Mountain West: legends of lost mines, train robbery gold, caves of forgotten riches, and Indians' buried silver (1st ed.). Little Rock: August House. ISBN 978-0-87483-272-3.
3. "Brazil: Manuscript 512 and the Lost City". The Diplomat in Spain. 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
4. I. A. Mumme (1982) The Emerald, Port Hacking, New South Wales: Mumme Publications, pp. 21–22.
5. Schmetzer, Karl; Martayan, Gérard; Blake, Andrea R. (2020). "History of the Chivor Emerald Mine, Part II (1924–1970): Between Insolvency and Viability". Gems & Gemology. 56 (2): 230–257. doi:10.5741/GEMS.56.2.230. S2CID 229069710.
6. "Pegleg Smith Monument". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
7. Powers, Evea Harrington (1 January 2001). Lost Sheepherder Mine. Writer's Press. ISBN 9781931041362.