John Lowery Brown, who kept a diary of the party's journey from Georgia to California, wrote on that day: 'Lay bye. Lewis Ralston dipped his gold pan into a stream flowing into Clear Creek and found about a quarter of a troy ounce (worth almost $5, equivalent to $180 today) in his first pan. On June 22, 1850, a wagon train bound for California crossed the South Platte River just north of the confluence with Clear Creek and followed Clear Creek west for six miles (9.7 km). The Cripple Creek district, far from the mineral belt, was one of the last gold districts to be discovered and is still in production.ĭenver-area placers Ralston Creek (center of picture) at its confluence with Clear Creek in Arvada.

Gold discoveries in Colorado began around Denver prospectors traced the placer gold to its source in the mountains west of Denver, then followed the Colorado Mineral Belt in a southwest direction across the state to its terminus in the San Juan Mountains.

It also played a key role in the establishment of the state of Colorado.Įxplorer Zebulon Pike heard a report of gold in South Park, present-day Park County, Colorado, in 1807. Gold mining in Colorado, a state of the United States, has been an industry since 1858. Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining & Safety

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