Spanish Gold Mines in the Sandia Mountains

[russau]

Yep that was a interesting video! I liked it !

 

[cyzak]

Yep that was a interesting video! I liked it !

Thank you Sir I will post some more interesting things on this thread I have collected thru out the years.

 

[sdcfia]

Now that’s an interesting video, thank you Cyzak. I’m looking forward to hearing more. 👍

And thanks for the encouragement. I don’t give up easily, just figured there was no interest. Seems only UFOs and whiskey talk around these parts.

By all means, carry on. 👍

Plenty of interest here Puff, but very little to chew on vis-a-vis answering the title of this thread. Expand your search area, particularly to the nearby Ortiz and San Pedro Mtns, and you'll do better.

Yes, zak, that was an interesting video for sure. Thanks for posting it. I'm also looking forward to what you might post on info in the state of NM, southern part in particular. You may wish to start a new thread since this one deals with the Sandia range specifically.

For thers, tree carvings can become controversial if looking for Spanish mines. As the video recommends, the first thing you might consider doing is to bore the tree to establish its true age. If it's not old enough to support your treasure speculations, then maybe the carvings are being misdated or misread. This alone could save you time in the long run.

That said, you can find good tree carvings in mineralized country, but they might have innocent explanations. Here's a pinon (a long-lived tree, which is a good choice) with some old enigmatic carvings on it. It's a bearing tree (BT) carved in 1948 by a Mineral Surveyor on the Knave claim (K, No. 2141), already being bark-healed and covered on the edges.

Same ideas work for carved rocks, which are much more difficult to interpret because there is no reliable method to determine the age of the carvings. Here's one. No, it's not a 1569 Spanish marker, it's corner 2 of the Deep Down lode, mining claim No. 1569, established in 1914 (chalked because of carving erosion). Carved rocks also have many other uses besides mining monuments.

 

[GirlWithWolf]

Here we see trees that date back to the time of the Spanish you can not believe how many times it has been said that tree can not go back that far in time. I will show trees with carvings on them that do go back to that period of time and yes they are still alive.

I love the speculation surrounding these medallions. As far as I know it is still unknown who put them there. Some have been dated back into the 1920s and one from the late 1950s, so did one person do this for 30 years?

Another strange mystery to me happened after I happened to watch a video on the history of fonts then this story came up next in my feed. There is something suspicious about the font, I sense it but I can’t figure out why.

 

[Puff the Tragic Wagon]

I love the speculation surrounding these medallions. As far as I know it is still unknown who put them there. Some have been dated back into the 1920s and one from the late 1950s, so did one person do this for 30 years?

Another strange mystery to me happened after I happened to watch a video on the history of fonts then this story came up next in my feed. There is something suspicious about the font, I sense it but I can’t figure out why.

I believe our friend Cyzak posted the video to demonstrate the fact there are trees old enough in the Sandias to have been used by the Spanish for marking a trail or site. He can correct me if I’m wrong.

The medallions themselves and who made them are a whole different subject, but I like the way you think. You have an eye for detail. A young detective in the making perhaps? 👍

I also found it interesting they used an event in time to date and name the tree, yet chose to number them as well? Interesting, but a subject better left to a thread of its own lest we lose sight of the subject.

So the first video shows there actually is gold to be found on the West side of the Sandias. And Cyzak’s video shows there are trees in the Sandias old enough to have been used by the Spanish for marking. I’m anxious to see what more Cyzak is going to share regarding that subject.

☕️👍

 

[cyzak]

Sandia is Spanish for watermelon when the Spanish came into that country they believe they named it for the Native Americans growing a gourd that looked like a watermelon called a buffalo gourd. They saw the well established Pueblos the Natives lived in the Spanish were after gold that's about all they cared about but the Sandia mountains were very sacred to the Natives there. The Spanish discovered gold in the mountains surrounding the area and were using the natives for forced labor.

 

[ISmellGold]

I suppose its possible. That seems pretty deep in the desert, without a water source doubtful any old Spanish would try and mine a site like that.
New Mexico is infamous for saying there is gold there. I think it is mostly a tourism ploy, though. Probably a little gold out there but nothing like the Sierras.
You still hear stories of people just walking along looking down and finding nuggets.

 

[sdcfia]

Sandia is Spanish for watermelon when the Spanish came into that country they believe they named it for the Native Americans growing a gourd that looked like a watermelon called a buffalo gourd. They saw the well established Pueblos the Natives lived in the Spanish were after gold that's about all they cared about but the Sandia mountains were very sacred to the Natives there. The Spanish discovered gold in the mountains surrounding the area and were using the natives for forced labor.

Buffalo gourds are considered invasive weeds for the most part and shunned. The numerous New Mexico Pueblos have been cultivating various well-known food squashes, pumpkins, etc. for centuries, if not longer, along with corn and beans in the same fields ("three sisters").

The Sandia ("watermelon") Mountains were named by the Spanish because of their frequent intense redness at sunset - the color of ripe watermelon. The mountains face due west with no obstructions of the suns rays except the horizon.

You're correct about the Spanish motivation, but the gold they were finding in recoverable amounts was not in the Sandia Mountains, but elsewhere. At least, no evidence has surfaced yet.

 

[sdcfia]

. . . I’m anxious to see what more Cyzak is going to share regarding that subject.

☕️👍

Me too.

 

[cyzak]

I suppose its possible. That seems pretty deep in the desert, without a water source doubtful any old Spanish would try and mine a site like that.
New Mexico is infamous for saying there is gold there. I think it is mostly a tourism ploy, though. Probably a little gold out there but nothing like the Sierras.
You still hear stories of people just walking along looking down and finding nuggets.

I have always made the remarks about a good water source close to a Spanish site you know water was life back then. I am sure there was a good water source in the Sandia mountains.

 

[Puff the Tragic Wagon]

I suppose its possible. That seems pretty deep in the desert, without a water source doubtful any old Spanish would try and mine a site like that.
New Mexico is infamous for saying there is gold there. I think it is mostly a tourism ploy, though. Probably a little gold out there but nothing like the Sierras.
You still hear stories of people just walking along looking down and finding nuggets.

It’s estimated that 662,000 oz of gold have been produced from placer deposits throughout New Mexico. While it may not be on par with the Sierras, it’s nothing to sneeze at.

“ The earliest reports of placer mining were in the 1600s along the northern Rio Grande. In 1828, large placer deposits were found in the Ortiz Mountains in Santa Fe County (Old Placers district, DIS187), which began one of the earliest gold rushes in the western United States. Known placer gold deposits were found along the southern and eastern flanks of the Ortiz Mountains; however, there could be additional placer gold deposits along the western flanks of the mountain range. Most placer deposits in New Mexico had been discovered by 1900. It is estimated that 662,000 oz of gold have been produced from placer deposits throughout New Mexico from 1828 to 1991. Only four districts have each yielded more than 100,000 oz of placer gold production: Elizabethtown-Baldy (DIS019), Hillsboro (DIS197), Old Placers (DIS187), and New Placers (DIS186). “

Placer Gold Resources in New Mexico

geoinfo.nmt.edu

 

[cyzak]

The Pueblo revolt of 1680 took the Spanish by surprise a lot of there mines that were in the Sandia mountains were covered up. These have been lost to times the revolt cost the Spanish at least 500 souls and removed about 2000 settlers out of the region.

 

[sdcfia]

The Pueblo revolt of 1680 took the Spanish by surprise a lot of there mines that were in the Sandia mountains were covered up. These have been lost to times the revolt cost the Spanish at least 500 souls and removed about 2000 settlers out of the region.

Some tribes remember the revolt well. Taos Pueblo destroyed the Franciscan church during the revolt and the ruins still stand within the pueblo 345 years later. A continuing message of hard feelings by the traditionalists perhaps?

By the way zak, you still haven't provided any info about those alleged Sandia Mountain Spanish mines. Are those stories referring to other sites in the state?

 

[Crow]

From reading mining reports an geological reports. Any gold values seem uneconomic. Sandia Mountains. it seems to be more copper lead and silver more than anything.

here is some mines around or near the area believe surveyed in 1960s I believe. Non ultimately proved economic in the long run. While gold was found the gold values in the ore was just uneconomic.


The Mary M Mine below is a copper and gold mine located in Bernalillo county, New Mexico at an elevation of 6,900 feet.

The Great Combination Mine is a silver, copper, and gold mine located in Bernalillo county, New Mexico at an elevation of 6,601 feet.

The La Luz Mine below, located near Sandia Park in New Mexico, is situated in the Placitas Mining District, which is now part of the Cibola National Forest. Its historical roots can be traced back to the year 1887 when it was first discovered by Juan Nieto. The mine primarily operates through underground workings, utilizing a single known shaft. The subsurface length of the mine extends up to a maximum of 84 meters (275 feet). The mined ore at La Luz consists predominantly of gold and galena, while the waste material comprises mostly of limonite, calcite, and quartz. The deposit itself is described as tabular-shaped, with a thickness of approximately 1.22 meters (4.00 feet). The surrounding area is characterized by granite rock formations from the Neoproterozoic era, which occurred between 1.00 to 0.54 billion years ago. Geomorphologically, the region is characterized by the Mexican Highland of the Intermontane Plateaus.

The blue sky mine below The vein is along a nearly vertical fault striking N 40 W with madera limestone on the east side dropped against sandia granite and sandia formation on the west. The vein zone is very brecciated and cemented with quartz stringers, of ten with coxcomb crystal development. Fluorite replaces both the granite footwall and limestone hanging wall. Galena and chalcopyrite are the principal ore. Calcite and barite are hypogene minerals drusy and vuggy textures are common. Malachite, chrysocolla, cerrusite, and limonite are secondary minerals. Gold star mining claimed to have found native gold and silver in 1916.

Cerro Pelon, Tijeras Canyon Mining District, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, USA .

Still fascinating history. I suspect the video exploring an old mine was one of the above. Yet as in context of the first question about Spanish mines. perhaps the Spanish found surface deposits relating to the above mentioned mines and over time these surface deposits later mined out.

Perhaps it was these five above mine sites mines that became the basses of Sandia mountain lost Spanish mine legend?

Crow.

 

[Puff the Tragic Wagon]

From reading mining reports an geological reports. Any gold values seem uneconomic. Sandia Mountains. it seems to be more copper lead and silver more than anything.

here is some mines around or near the area believe surveyed in 1960s I believe. Non ultimately proved economic in the long run. While gold was found the gold values in the ore was just uneconomic.


The Mary M Mine below is a copper and gold mine located in Bernalillo county, New Mexico at an elevation of 6,900 feet.

View attachment 2206385

The Great Combination Mine is a silver, copper, and gold mine located in Bernalillo county, New Mexico at an elevation of 6,601 feet.

View attachment 2206386

The La Luz Mine below, located near Sandia Park in New Mexico, is situated in the Placitas Mining District, which is now part of the Cibola National Forest. Its historical roots can be traced back to the year 1887 when it was first discovered by Juan Nieto. The mine primarily operates through underground workings, utilizing a single known shaft. The subsurface length of the mine extends up to a maximum of 84 meters (275 feet). The mined ore at La Luz consists predominantly of gold and galena, while the waste material comprises mostly of limonite, calcite, and quartz. The deposit itself is described as tabular-shaped, with a thickness of approximately 1.22 meters (4.00 feet). The surrounding area is characterized by granite rock formations from the Neoproterozoic era, which occurred between 1.00 to 0.54 billion years ago. Geomorphologically, the region is characterized by the Mexican Highland of the Intermontane Plateaus.

View attachment 2206387

The blue sky mine below The vein is along a nearly vertical fault striking N 40 W with madera limestone on the east side dropped against sandia granite and sandia formation on the west. The vein zone is very brecciated and cemented with quartz stringers, of ten with coxcomb crystal development. Fluorite replaces both the granite footwall and limestone hanging wall. Galena and chalcopyrite are the principal ore. Calcite and barite are hypogene minerals drusy and vuggy textures are common. Malachite, chrysocolla, cerrusite, and limonite are secondary minerals. Gold star mining claimed to have found native gold and silver in 1916.


View attachment 2206388

Cerro Pelon, Tijeras Canyon Mining District, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, USA .

View attachment 2206389

Still fascinating history. I suspect the video exploring an old mine was one of the above. Yet as in context of the first question about Spanish mines. perhaps the Spanish found surface deposits relating to the above mentioned mines and over time these surface deposits later mined out.

Perhaps it was these five above nine sites mines that became the basses of Sandia mountain lost Spanish mine legend?

Crow.

Excellent post, thank you! And it very well could be. I have no doubt they were there, and mining. Whether they found much is debatable, but worth investigating. 🔎

☕️👍

 

[Puff the Tragic Wagon]

I have always made the remarks about a good water source close to a Spanish site you know water was life back then. I am sure there was a good water source in the Sandia mountains.

You are correct, there is water to be found in the Sandias, on the west face in particular. 👍


A number of springs and seeps are found on the west face of the mountains, in lower Tijeras Canyon, and usuly in the floors of arroyos. 11 springs (table 2) associated with Precambrian rocks were visited during fieldwork for this report, but E.R. Caprio (1960) describes 22 in the Sandias alone.


New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources
https://geoinfo.nmt.edu
PDF
Ground water in the Sandia and northern Manzano Mountains, ...

 

[cyzak]

Excellent research crow this is what this thread is about Spanish mines in the Sandia mountains. We have all the resources for the Spanish to mine this area engineers, labor, minerals, food and water.

 

[sdcfia]

From reading mining reports an geological reports. Any gold values seem uneconomic. Sandia Mountains. it seems to be more copper lead and silver more than anything.

here is some mines around or near the area believe surveyed in 1960s I believe. Non ultimately proved economic in the long run. While gold was found the gold values in the ore was just uneconomic.

The Mary M Mine below is a copper and gold mine located in Bernalillo county, New Mexico at an elevation of 6,900 feet.

The Great Combination Mine is a silver, copper, and gold mine located in Bernalillo county, New Mexico at an elevation of 6,601 feet.

The La Luz Mine below, located near Sandia Park in New Mexico, is situated in the Placitas Mining District, which is now part of the Cibola National Forest. Its historical roots can be traced back to the year 1887 when it was first discovered by Juan Nieto. The mine primarily operates through underground workings, utilizing a single known shaft. The subsurface length of the mine extends up to a maximum of 84 meters (275 feet). The mined ore at La Luz consists predominantly of gold and galena, while the waste material comprises mostly of limonite, calcite, and quartz. The deposit itself is described as tabular-shaped, with a thickness of approximately 1.22 meters (4.00 feet). The surrounding area is characterized by granite rock formations from the Neoproterozoic era, which occurred between 1.00 to 0.54 billion years ago. Geomorphologically, the region is characterized by the Mexican Highland of the Intermontane Plateaus.

The blue sky mine below The vein is along a nearly vertical fault striking N 40 W with madera limestone on the east side dropped against sandia granite and sandia formation on the west. The vein zone is very brecciated and cemented with quartz stringers, of ten with coxcomb crystal development. Fluorite replaces both the granite footwall and limestone hanging wall. Galena and chalcopyrite are the principal ore. Calcite and barite are hypogene minerals drusy and vuggy textures are common. Malachite, chrysocolla, cerrusite, and limonite are secondary minerals. Gold star mining claimed to have found native gold and silver in 1916.

Cerro Pelon, Tijeras Canyon Mining District, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, USA .

Still fascinating history. I suspect the video exploring an old mine was one of the above. Yet as in context of the first question about Spanish mines. perhaps the Spanish found surface deposits relating to the above mentioned mines and over time these surface deposits later mined out.

Perhaps it was these five above mine sites mines that became the basses of Sandia mountain lost Spanish mine legend?

Crow.

Good work Crow. Let me add some info on these five mines. All were modern Anglo era operations.

Mary M Mine: 1955; northern Manzano Mountains; copper, some gold and silver recovered.
Great Combination Mine: 1950; northern Manzano Mountains; some silver and gold recovered.
La Luz Mine: 1911; near La Luz Trail below Sandia Crest on the west slope of the Sandia Mountains; lead mine, some gold recovered.
Blue Sky Mine: 1912; east slope Sandia Mountains near Sandia Park; copper.
Cerro Pelon Mine: no date; northern Manzano Mountains; fluorite.

These are all modern operations that recovered minor quantities of economic minerals. The La Luz Mine and the Blue Sky Mine are actually located in the Sandias (west and east sides respectively), and mainly produced some base metals in the 20th Century.

Whereas New Mexico has no shortage of "lost Spanish gold mine" tales, we still have identified no alleged Spanish or Mexican gold mines originating in the Sandias. Ortiz and San Pedro Mountains - yes.

 

[Puff the Tragic Wagon]

Good work Crow. Let me add some info on these five mines. All were modern Anglo era operations.

Mary M Mine: 1955; northern Manzano Mountains; copper, some gold and silver recovered.
Great Combination Mine: 1950; northern Manzano Mountains; some silver and gold recovered.
La Luz Mine: 1911; near La Luz Trail below Sandia Crest on the west slope of the Sandia Mountains; lead mine, some gold recovered.
Blue Sky Mine: 1912; east slope Sandia Mountains near Sandia Park; copper.
Cerro Pelon Mine: no date; northern Manzano Mountains; fluorite.

These are all modern operations that recovered minor quantities of economic minerals. The La Luz Mine and the Blue Sky Mine are actually located in the Sandias (west and east sides respectively), and mainly produced some base metals in the 20th Century.

Whereas New Mexico has no shortage of "lost Spanish gold mine" tales, we still have identified no alleged Spanish or Mexican gold mines originating in the Sandias. Ortiz and San Pedro Mountains - yes.

We? You have a mouse in your pocket?

I think it’s been established that gold has actually been found on the western side of the Sandias (per video #1), along with sources of water. And the possibility there could be Spanish trail markers there as well (video #2).

The Anglo “gold rush” in that area actually started in 1828, but there is known workings from as early as the 1600s along the northern Rio Grande, so there’s every possibility the Spanish could have done some prospecting in the area of the Sandias, that remain unknown. Is it likely? Maybe, maybe not. Won’t know if you don’t go.

Since I have some time on my hands coming up, and I’ll be in the area again, sounds like an opportunity to get in some hiking and do a little recon. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Thank you all for your input, it’s appreciated. 👍

 

[Crow]

Correct. the problem I see is fascination of lost Spanish mines. Ironic most miners were probably more Mexican mixed breeds than actual peninsular Spanish. While searching lost early workings can help to find gold deposits to find gold it should not be the sole method.there is hell of a lot of empty abandoned holes in ground virtually barren dug by broken dreams from various time periods. because at end of day the geology will tell where the gold is. I think the Spanish was present and explore the area but even so I do not think the mountain was ever really attractive to the Spanish to mine as there was better paying deposits elsewhere.

My guess the treasure legend evolved much later perhaps from treasure magazines and books in 50's and 60's? In which for many could such 19th and 20th century abandoned mines and workings became seen as original Spanish mines. I have seen no archaeology to support and suggest earlier Spanish mining operation so far in those mountains. In the 17th century, common mining tools included pickaxes, shovels, and hammers, which were used for manual excavation and breaking down rock. Blasting using black powder (gunpowder) also became more common during this period. Other tools included iron wedges, crowbars, and metal buckets, which were used for various tasks such as securing rock, extracting ore, and transporting materials. Wooden supports, such as ladders and timbers, were essential for keeping mine shafts stable. Finally, miners used candles or small lamps to illuminate the mines

Puff here is some thing that might be of interest? I cannot say for sure related to Sandia mountain but definitely worth following up on. nor evidence of Spanish mine.

San Francisco Call, Volume 90, Number 151, 29 October 1901 reported the following

Crow