Jump to content

Origin Of Gold


Recommended Posts

Here are a few references to articles, etc on the California & Nevada Palo-river valleys found on older forum posts you may find of interest.

“The Tertiary Gravels of the Sierra Nevada of California”, Lindgren, W.  1911 (book) 

“The upper reaches of the Sierra Nevada auriferous gold channels, California and Nevada”, Garside, L. J. 2005, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology. (downloaded from older forum link?)

“Origin of gold in placer deposits of the Sierra Nevada foothills, California”, Christensen H. W. , Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, 2015 (downloaded from sierrageology.org). 

The attached photo is looking south over “Benson Lake” located in the backcountry of Yosemite National Park. The ridge line on the left (west) in the photo extends south from Piute Peak as referenced by Lindgren beginning on page# 214 of the 1911 “Tertiary Gravels”. The Lindgren photograph found between pages #218 and #219 is of the Tertiary (Eocene) Tuolumne River channel crossing east to west down ridge (south) of the lake, above and west of Piute Canyon. If you were to go to “Google Earth” you can fly around this actual channel crossing in 3D.  Located down stream, near Big Oak Flat, on the tertiary Tuolumne River is one of the two richest placer deposits discovered in California. The first of the richest placer deposits was deposited by a branch of the tertiary Calaveras river into Columbia basin (CA, Columbia State Park). Both of these placers deposits are located east of the main Motherlode belt but may have crossed portions of the east lode belt (if either lode deposit existed or had raised 55 million years ago.) As a side note: “Table Mountain” located in both Calaveras And Tuolumne counties is at least 30 million years younger than these Eocene channels. The Table Mountain channel picked up placers at the cutting of the tertiary Calaveras channel at Columbia then again at the lode crossing near Woods Creeks, Jamestown.  Per the article on the “ upper reaches of SN gold channels”, 2005 the central channel of the tertiary Yuba River originated near Yerington, Nevada. Seems the majority of the 1848 California placers were taken before these ancient Eocene channels crossed the main California lode deposits.  Although you are allowed to fish but not detect within a national park, I have heard you may still be able to detect in Nevada. Just keep in mind that unlike YNP park rangers, old miners are neither as well dressed nor nearly as polite. Enjoy the read.

D29320AD-D3A2-4C29-A162-87CAC88BC6B6.jpeg

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites


The old diggins at Columbia State Park are still visible, if you drive around the Columbia community college you can see the old diggings. Wonder how much gold the construction and road crews found while building the college and roads near it. If your in and around the area its worth a drive to Murphys and visit the Ironstone winery, the famous " Christmas Pocket" gold specimen is there along with other gold specimens on display. Thanks for the book reference , interesting indeed. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The size of the Columbia/ Gold Springs operation is impressive. I don’t know this as fact but I suspect the Columbia Airport runway was constructed from waste material. Lindgren was under the impression the Tertiary Calaveras tributary running into the Columbia Basin originated near Yankee Hill/ Sawmill Flat immediately to the east. The South Fork of the Stanislaus River and Five Mile Creek have for the most part eroded the upstream channels. From the Columbia Basin this Calaveras branch flowed NW towards the Vallecito Basin under Table Mountain (north side of the Stanislaus) then onto the confluence with the main Calaveras channel flowing down from Murphys. Check out the east side road cut on Parrotts Ferry road just north of Vallecito. From this same vista the Main Calaveras Channel is in view to the north. From Douglas Flat working are visible to both the north & south. Go back to “Google Earth” then climb to the summit to find “Highland Peak” then look downhill to the west. Did the glaciers get it all?

side note: downstream between the South Fork Stanislaus/Five Mile Creek confluence and the Pine Log Crossing is where the founders of GPAA suctioned out their 880 ounces. Sorry it is still claimed up clear to the main. AMRA did have have access to a claim from the bridge downstream a short distance. Mount Lilly mine property up Five Mile Creek is private. Use caution these are the mountains and folks still farm for a living.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...