Wisconsin is not known for it's gold mines. Unlike the San Francisco 49ers, our football team's gold color is more reflective of cheese than of the metal.
Yet, one could point to places in Wisconsin and say indeed, there is gold in them thar hills!
How much gold, you ask? Well, one mine in Rusk County Wisconsin produced 334,000 ounces of gold in 5 years (1993 - 1997), not to mention 3.3 million ounces of silver, plus copper to boot. Reading this, you might be licking your pickaxe while singing "Silver and Gold" along with Yukon Cornelius while you book a trip to Wisco.
But wait, there's more. Significant gold deposits have been reported in Ashland and Marathon Counties as well. Some deposits have names: There is the "Northern Belle Mine" and the "Chicago Mine" between Drummond and Mellen in northern Wisconsin; The "Reef Deposit" east of Wausau; and the "Lynn Deposit" in Oneida County. Of course, the gold in these deposits is not easily recovered. These are "massive sulfide" deposits that would require expensive recovery operations. Not to mention, the permitting process would be a nightmare and you'd face opposition from groups concerned about potential water pollution from this type of mine. Want an example? All of this is currently playing out with the "Back Forty" gold/copper mine just across Wisconsin's border in the U.P. of Michigan.
OK, so maybe you don't want to mine for gold using new-fangled technology or deal with modern-day politics, you just want to find gold the old-fashioned way: Panning. There is hope. Yes, you can pan for gold in Wisconsin and you might even find a little (just don't give up your day job and be sure to follow the rules). One of the best sites to pan for gold in Wisconsin is at Nugget Lake Park along Plum Creek in Pierce County. The gold here may be associated with an impact crater known as the "Rock Elm Disturbance" formed during the Middle Ordovician Period somewhere between 430 and 455 million years ago. More on this crater in future blog posts. Let's get back to the gold!
So where does "X mark the spot"? Right here on this blog, you'll find a treasure map: Find gold on the Wisconsin Geology GIS web map by clicking here and then typing "Gold" into the search box in the upper left of the map. You'll see a list of results; Clicking each result will bring you to the location in Wisconsin where gold may be found, including the examples given above. Further, you have technology the old-timers could have only dreamed of: The mapped locations include a popup with a link and Google Map directions. Using our very own app, your smart phone will lead you right to paydirt! You will be richly rewarded, though probably not in gold or other monetary form--your reward will most likely come from experiencing Wisconsin's great outdoors. All that glitters is gold....in the form of Wisconsin's 15,000 sun-splashed lakes or the many other brilliant rocks and minerals you can find here. That's gold, Jerry! Gold!
References:
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WiDNR), "Reclaimed Flambeau Mine" (web page)
- Oneida County web site, the Lynn Deposit (web page).
- Aquila Resources, "Back Forty" mine web site
- Wisconsin Geological & Natural History Survey (WGNHS) web site, minerals > gold page.
No comments:
Post a Comment