Mining History
Mining the San Juan Mountains: A Rich and Rugged History
The San Juans are Colorado's most rugged and mineral-rich mountain range. We trace the mining history from Silverton to Telluride.
From the Field
Mining news, prospecting tips, Colorado geology, and specimen finds from the Rocky Mountain Mining team.
Mining History
Silver Plume's Mining-Claims Buyout: How a Tiny Historic Town Protected Republican Mountain
A 210-person town just bought 217 historic mining claims totaling 553 acres on Republican Mountain. Here's how Silver Plume pulled off two multi-million-dollar conservation deals in four years, and why it's a working model for retiring mining claims across Colorado.
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Mining History
Leadville's Silver Boom: From Tabor to Today
The story of Leadville's silver strike, the rise and fall of Horace Tabor, and what the district looks like today for prospectors.
Mining History
The Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Rush: From Poverty Gulch to Modern Open-Pit Mining
Bob Womack's 1890 gold strike at Poverty Gulch launched Colorado's last great gold rush in a place nobody expected: a volcanic caldera. From gold-telluride ores to Newmont's modern operation.
Mining History
The Colorado Gold Rush: How 1859 Changed the Rocky Mountains Forever
The Pikes Peak Gold Rush transformed Colorado from wilderness to statehood.