TxGoldDigger
Jr. Member
I was wondering if a gold claim on Cherry Creek near Silver City would be worth going after. Also, what laws are in place in that area.
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Gold Prospecting in New Mexico
- Thread starter TxGoldDigger
- Start date
KevinInColorado
Gold Member
- Jan 9, 2012
- 7,037
- 11,370
- Detector(s) used
- Grizzly Goldtrap Explorer & Motherlode, Gold Cube with trommel or Banker on top, Angus Mackirk Expedition, Gold-n-Sand Xtream Hand pump
- Primary Interest:
- Prospecting
Only way to know is to go sample it using the equipment you'd really use when you owned the claim.
The productive portion of Cherry Creek has been worked hard for a long time. As in no stone unturned 5 times.
If you are looking at upper Cherry Creek where the two new claims were made this year look again. That area is outside the mineralized zone. It's also next to a very popular campground and hiking trail. The greenies are thick there.
If you are looking at the one 40 acre Anderson family claim located in 1981 near the Ben Lilly memorial you might have some luck turning the rocks again. That claim would require two claimants in association to remain valid.
Other than that the area is almost all private property so investigate claim access closely. More than likely the claim at Ben Lilly is accessed by agreement with local landowners so there is no guarantee you could enter there even if you owned the claim. In that area of New Mexico it's all about who you know. The most likely access, a small road that enters Cherry Creek just south of Ben Lilly, crosses private property in Section 25. Access to the creek from the Hwy through public land is very steep and rough.
That's an amazingly beautiful and little known area of the country. A virtually undiscovered gem but the Boulder Colorado/California crowd has been moving in to Silver City in the last few years so expect resistance to any digging there. The entire length of Cherry Creek is visible from the well traveled Scenic Hwy 15.
Heavy Pans
If you are looking at upper Cherry Creek where the two new claims were made this year look again. That area is outside the mineralized zone. It's also next to a very popular campground and hiking trail. The greenies are thick there.
If you are looking at the one 40 acre Anderson family claim located in 1981 near the Ben Lilly memorial you might have some luck turning the rocks again. That claim would require two claimants in association to remain valid.
Other than that the area is almost all private property so investigate claim access closely. More than likely the claim at Ben Lilly is accessed by agreement with local landowners so there is no guarantee you could enter there even if you owned the claim. In that area of New Mexico it's all about who you know. The most likely access, a small road that enters Cherry Creek just south of Ben Lilly, crosses private property in Section 25. Access to the creek from the Hwy through public land is very steep and rough.
That's an amazingly beautiful and little known area of the country. A virtually undiscovered gem but the Boulder Colorado/California crowd has been moving in to Silver City in the last few years so expect resistance to any digging there. The entire length of Cherry Creek is visible from the well traveled Scenic Hwy 15.
Heavy Pans
