On the afternoon of August 13, 1896, three men rode their horses across the town of Montpelier in Bear Lake County, Idaho towards Washington Street. Across the street from the Bank of Montpelier, they dismounted and tied their horses on a hitching rack. Two of the men casually walked to the bank like normal customers. […]
Lost Treasures
There are lost treasures scattered all around the world, long ago hidden. These include lost mines, buried hoards of gold & silver, sunken ships, or other hidden wealth. Treasure hunters spend countless hours researching and relocating buried treasures, some that are worth millions of dollars!
The Earliest Uses of Gold in History
For decades, items made of gold have been hyped by merchants for their desirability and are highly coveted by many as symbols of luxury, style and wealth. But this modern-day obsession with gold can actually be traced to ancient cultures around the world. Gold has been at the center of human history for thousands of […]
The SS Gairsoppa Sunk in the Atlantic with A Massive Fortune Aboard
The ocean glimmers with each passing wave, winking at adventurers brave enough to explore its depths. Of the many adventures to be had in the water, treasure hunting amidst sunken ships just might be the most thrilling. It’s a siren song of ships that made an unfortunate watery detour, their riches untouched and stories untold. […]
Gold Mining during the Early Roman Empire
Before we get to mining in Rome, it is important to state first of all that metalworking was not invented in the Roman Empire. These techniques were already very common in Italy as early as the Bronze Age, roughly around 53 BC. However, the expansion of the Roman Empire meant that demand for metal was […]
The Lost Ship in the Desert – Buried Treasure in Southern California
Sometimes reality sounds more bizarre than fiction. The tale of a large sailing vessel brimming with gold, pearls, and all kinds of riches submerged under the dry sands of the Salton Sea basin in California still mystifies people. A large ship stranded hundreds of miles inland from the Gulf of California and Pacific Sea can […]
Origins of Gold – The Formation and Deposits found on Earth
From emperors to poor peasants, since the Copper Age to modern times, people have coveted gold. The Egyptians called it ‘the breath of God’ and for the Aztecs, the yellow metal was ‘the sweat of the sun’. Until the early 19th century, gold and silver were used as currency. This was followed by paper currency […]
Conquistador’s Gold | The Plundering of the Americas
Listen for the Tommyknockers! Legends of the Underground Mines
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves is a classic tale popularized in 1937 by Walt Disney in which a motherless princess escapes the clutches of her evil stepmother to impart to viewers that beauty is more than skin deep. The seven dwarves delighted audiences with their comic hijinks and heroic deeds, but how many viewers […]
The Florentine Diamond – Valuable Lost Treasures of the World
The history of the Florentine Diamond is one filled with mystery and danger. It might also have something to do with the history of World War I. If you are one of those treasure hunters then this might be your perfect research project for you. The Florentine Diamond is also known as the Tuscan, the […]
Scoundrels of the Early Gold Rush | “Soapy” Smith
Jefferson Randolph, who was frequently known as “Soapy Smith,” was born on November 1860 into the family of educated and wealthy people. He was born in Georgia to an attorney, and his grandfather was a senator at that time. Hard luck struck the Smith family, and they lost their wealth to ruins at the end […]
Lake Tahoe Gold | Panning, Prospecting & Treasure Hunting
Lake Tahoe is one of the most popular vacation destinations in northern California. So much natural beauty, the water is crystal clear and the granite peaks and stunning vistas are out of this world! Being that it is in Northern California, it’s not uncommon for folks to bring a gold pan along with them while […]
Natural Gold Display at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Those of us who take an interest in gems and mineral are often saddened to hear how many great specimens were destroyed by the early miners. At a time when most gold was only priced for its assay values, even large nuggets and crystalline gold specimens were often crushed and melted. Many of the largest […]
Gold, Gems, Rockhounding & Treasure Hunting in Hawaii
We write a lot about gold prospecting opportunities in the United States. Many people are surprised to learn that gold can be found in almost all 50 states. I’ve got some bad news for you Hawaii… this is one place where you aren’t likely to find any natural occurrences of gold. The geology simply isn’t […]
The Lost Flor de la Mar Treasure
Ruggles Brothers Treasure – Stolen Gold in Redding, California
John and Charles Ruggles were the sons of a well regarded family living in Tulare County, located in the south/central part of California. Charles, the younger of the two attended college, and his father had every reason to believe young Charles would do well in life. John was another matter, as he had been a […]