Gold!

If you are brave enough to venture back into Arizona's wild and shady history, go no further than Vulture City, about 12 miles outside of Wickenburg. The Vulture mine and surrounding property has changed hands a couple of times and is currently being renovated in hopes of restoring it to within squinting distance of its original state.

The place is an eclectic museum of gold mining in the mid 1800s with buildings and original artifacts telling the story of desperate men clamoring after the southwest's king of rocks - cold, hard, glittering gold. Visitors see remnants of the actual tools and machinery used to collect and process gold. They can also sense the danger surrounding gold operations of that time as they behold the "hanging tree," which quickly dealt with those who attempted to steal the bright treasure.

It is believed that there is a lot of gold in the core of the earth. Over time, with seismic activity and the movement of molten liquids, it has been pushed to the surface of the earth's crust.  Along with other minerals like sulfer, it flowed into underground cracks and cavities, forming veins of ore as it cooled.  Natural processes of erosion carry specks or nuggets of gold into streams and rivers, and because it is one of the heaviest minerals, gold sinks to the bottom when panned.

Arizona has some of the most widespread gold deposits of any state in the US, as gold has been found in almost every county. Small prospecting ventures have been popular here with supposedly lots of gold yet to find. Even today, there is an active group of gold prospectors and pan handlers who track gold, particularly in washes, where gold flakes tend to appear.


Finding real gold takes effort, but other rocks that sparkle and shimmer are also fun to find, from mica to pyrite to hematite. Sparkling flakes of mica are common in rocks found in the desert. Pyrite is also called "fool's gold" due to its resemblance to the real thing. It is inexpensive and a must for any rock collection. Tracking interesting rocks and minerals often leads to learning about historical figures who also tracked wonders of our earth's crust.No matter where you live, the earth provides beautiful treasures underfoot, so be sure to take time to look down as you track wonder.

Wonder Questions for Young Trackers

• What causes rocks and minerals to sparkle?
• What is the difference between a rock and a mineral?
• Are some rocks harder than others? Can you easily scratch or break the rocks you find?
• Why do you think people get excited when they find gold? What is special about gold?
• What happens when you wet the rocks you have found? Do they look different?
• Can you find a rock that has sparkles in it?
• Why are some rocks jagged and some smooth?  

References and Resources

raregoldnuggets.com - The Best Mining in Arizona
factslides.com - Gold Facts
goldrushnuggets.com - How Does Gold Form?
UCSB Science Line - Ask a Question
American Museum of Natural History - Gold Facts
minerals.net - The Mineral Gold

Documentary
history.com - Gold Mining Documentary

Bonus: Trekking Opportunity Near Vulture City

On the road out to Vulture City, there is a wonderful hike up to Vulture Peak.  Watch for signs directing travelers into a parking lot.  It is rated as moderate, but does become more strenuous at the top. Be prepared to do some rock climbing to reach the very top. Not recommended for very young trackers.

alltrails.com - Vulture Peak Trail

Images - Sharon Pegany