YUMA COUNTY, ARIZONA

Yuma County ranks fourth among Arizona's gold producing counties. Nine districts produced 771,000 ounces of gold, while many other areas produced less than 10,000 ounces each.

In the Tank mountains all regional watercourse and bench gravels contain placer gold. At east foot of mountains, the Puzzles, Golden Harp, Ramey, and Regal mines and prospects, all worked by worked by dry wash methods, they are said to contain rather coarse placer gold.

In Bouse there are many old mines and I have been told that in dark red rhyolite, plainly visible fine gold flakes (almost impossible to mine successfully). If you go northwest 5 miles from Bouse, you will find the Old Maid Mine, intermittently operated for lode gold. If you go 1 mile farther northwest, in low, narrow north part of the Plomosa mountains, you will find the location of the Dutchman Mine, which was a lode gold (visible flakes in copper stained shale). If you go north 28 miles, in area of the Bill William's River, the Planet district, 2 mile south of river, the Planet Lease was a lode gold mine.

In the Castle Dome district, 31 road miles northeast of Dove in southcentral part of the county in south part of the Castle Dome mountains 20-25 mile north of Wellton, they had a total production,1863-1959, of 9,500-10,000 ounces of placer and lode gold. There are many area old mines for both placer and lode. The Big Eye Mine was a major producer of lode gold. In the east and south of the Big Eye, very many gravel deposits contain placer gold.

At Cibola, which is due south of Blythe, California, on east side of Colorado River, reached 2.5 miles south of Quartzite via U.S. 95, turn west on dirt road to this almost totally abandoned camp, in the area mine dumps you can find gold.

In the Dome district 20 miles east by northeast of Yuma, discovered in 1858, had a total production through 1959 of 24,765 ounces of gold, mostly prior to 1865 from area 2 mile long by .24 X .75 mile wide. Altogether, this region embraces about 5,000 square. mile between U.S. 60, 70 and U.S. 80, east of the Colorado River to the Maricopa county line, with hundreds of old mines and prospects worked primarily for gold. If you go west 1.5 miles from Dome, in Monitor Gulch and all tributary gulches and terraces, rich placers can be found. In south and central parts of township 7, 8 south and range 18, 19, and 20 west in canyons around Muggins Peak and at base of Long Mountain are also some rich placers. If you go out 10 miles from Dome by rough road to Burro Canyon ,trending south from Muggins Peak, there were some rich early placers that still produce gold. East of Dome, in the Muggins mountains, in south and central parts of township 8, 9 south and range 8, 9, and 10 west there are many dry placer gravel deposits.

In the Kofa district about 27 air miles southeast of Quartzite, reached via U.S. 95 and an east trending dirt road, you will find the King of Arizona and North Star mines, which had a total production, between 1896-1941, of 237,000 ounces of lode gold. In the same area, the Kofa Queen Mine, was also a big producer. North of the King of Arizona, in a gulch draining west from the north part of detached hills, all area outwash gravel deposits in debris to 70 feet thick over a 60 acre parcel contain placer gold.

In Laguna, just north of the Gila River and east of the Colorado River in south end of the Laguna mountains in range 21 and 22 west total district production to 1959 of 10,500 ounces of gold. At the Laguna Dam, area at east end about 10 mile northeast of Yuma, as well as the Las Flores area, and the McPhaul area, many local placers have proven to be rich. All along Colorado River, in potholes and tributary gulches colors and nuggets can be found. North of the Gila River and the Gila mountains, in range 21 and 22 west embracing the south, southeast, and southwest portions of the Laguna or San Pablo mountains, also many placer deposits can be found.

Northeast of Parker by 5 miles, is the site of the Rio Vista North Side Mine (12 claims) for lode gold, North of Parker you will find the Capilano Mine, shallow shaft and open cuts which produced rich lode gold, with copper. If you go northeast 5-8 miles, you will find the Cienega district, total production, 1870-1959, exceeding 10,000 ounces from numerous mines, all of which were lode gold and copper. If you go northeast 7 miles, you will find the Lion Hill Mine and 25 ton amalgamation mill, and 1 mile northeast, the Billy Mack Mine, good producer of lode gold.

In Quartzite on top of highest peak visible from town to the east, a one man mine produced some lode gold. If you go southeast 5 miles, the Plomosa district, includes east and west. margins of the La Posa Plain and covering 7,500 acres, the Plomosa placers, these gravels were worked extensively to depths of 70 feet, these are dry wash placers. In the area of the Dome Rock mountains there are 3 locations worth mentioning: (a) La Cholla, in area 4-5 miles long south of bordering the east foot of mountains, abundant placer sands at bedrock level; (b) Middle Camp, at east foot of mountains, just north of the Oro Fino Placers, an area 4-5 mile E-W and 1 mile N-S, rich seams of gravel at bedrock rich placer gold can be found; (c) Oro Fino, at east foot of mountains, the Oro Fino placers, rich placers as well. If you go west of Quartzite by 8 miles, the La Paz district, the Goodman Mine can be found it produced free milling gold. If you go west 9 miles and 6 mile east of the Colorado River, along west side of the Dome mountains, extensive placers and several lode mines with a total production between 1862-1934, of about 100,000 gold ounces from dry wash placers and 4,000 ounces of lode gold from area veins. All regional gulches and tributaries draining west slopes of mountains contain dry placer gravels. At Goodman Arroyo and Arroyo La Paz especially rich placers can be found. In Ferrar Gulch, most productive placers in district; out 22 miles from Quartzite, at west base of the Dome Rock mountains, in township 2N and range 21W the Trigo placers. All area arroyo bottom gravels, and in ancient bar and channel gravels contain placer gold in coarse, flat grains. If you go south on U.S. 95 to Stone Cabin, turn east into southwest margin of the Kofa mountains, the Kofa district can be found. This is also a rich area.

Southeast of Salome by 5 miles, at north base of the Harquahala mountains, the Hercules Mine, productive 1909-34 for lode gold. If you go south 8 miles, in Harquahala gulch, gravel deposits worked 1886-87 for its placer gold. If you go south 10 miles, the Ellsworth district in the Little Harquahala mountains had a total production through 1959, of about 134,000 ounces of lode and placer gold. At Harquahala, which is a ghost town, there were many area great mines: the Harquahala Bonanza, Extension, Summit Lode, Narrow Gauge, and Grand View mines; the Golden Eagle and subsidiary shafts all for lode gold. If you go south 11 miles, at south base of the Harquahala mountains, is the location of the Socorro Mine and mill. Take road branching east from the Salome-Hassayampa road for 5 mile, near south base of the Harquahala mountains, the Hidden Treasure Mine can be found it had fine to course nugget gold. If you go 8 miles farther along road, toward Aguila, on the plain south of the Harquahala mountains, the Alaskan Mine, discovered in 1920 for its lode gold content. If you head southeast, along rd. across desert to Tonopah, there are very many regional old mine dumps with gold showings. The area of the Tank mountains is also rich in placer gold.

Near Vicksburg, northeast 30 miles, to Alamo Spring, which is accessible by 13 mile dirt road branching west from the Sheep Tanks road at east entrance of New Water Pass, is the location of the Alamo Region: Within 1 mile of south of the margin of the Little Horn mountains and .25 miles south of the southeast corner. township 1N range 15W is the location of the Sheep Tanks Mine (and district) and 100-ton cyanide mill, active 1909-34 for its lode gold. Nearby, the Resolution and Black Eagle Claims all contain lode gold. If you go 5 miles east of Sheep Tank and just north of road to Palomas, the Davis Prospect, shallow cuts made 1931-32 for lode gold.

In Wellton go south 6 miles, to the Wellton Hills district, such mines as the Double Eagle, Poorman, Draghi, Donaldson, Wanamaker, Welltonia, Northern, and Shirley May are contained in this district.

If you go southeast of Wenden by 5 miles, at north base of the Harquahala mountains, the San Marcose Mine, was a high-grade lode gold mine.

East of Yuma by 16 miles on 1-8 (U.S. 80), take dirt road south to west base of the Gila mountains, the La Fortuna district contains many outcrops of gold bearing quartz. Also you will find the Fortuna Mine, major producer, intermittently worked for lode gold. Also there are many area prospects, cuts, and drifts that have gold showings. 3 miles north of the Fortuna, on crest of the Gila mountains, rough terrain, gold bearing quartz outcrops, some traceable for 1 mile, very little prospected for lode and free milling gold. If you go northeast on U.S. 95 to McPhaul bridge, .8 mile north take branch road 3.2 miles to southeast margin of the Laguna mountains, the Las Flores district, numerous area mines, including the Traeger, Golden Queen, and Pandino claim all for lode gold. Go to area of the Castle Dome mountains, old camp of Thumb Butte, then 10 mile east across mountains to east side, the Big Eye Mine produced lode gold.

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